Kirsten Ulve

Kirsten Ulve (born 1967) is a graphic artist who resides in New York City. She is best known for her caricatures of notable people  and editorial illustration for newspapers and magazines. Ulve has also designed for an array of other mediums including a marquee for Broadway and stamps for the United States Post Office. Kirsten is married to WFMU radio personality Clay Pigeon.

Early life and education
Ulve was born in 1967 and grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. Her mother, Charlotte Ulve, taught at Loras College and was involved in the local arts community. Her father, Edward Ulve, was a certified public accountant. She studied drawing and graphic design at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, where she also worked at the school’s in house graphic design studio. After graduating, she spent 6 years in Chicago working as a graphic designer and illustrator before moving to New York City to pursue illustration full time.

Career
Ulve is known for caricatures of notable people  and has illustrated for many mediums including newspapers, magazines, animation, children's clothing, silk scarves and games. Some of her print clients include: The New York Times, Vogue Japan, The Los Angeles Times, Politico, The New Yorker, Glamour, Boston Magazine, Hasbro, DMagazine, Godiva, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Los Angeles Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Entertainment Weekly.

In 2011, Ulve created the animated characters and figurines for Hasbro’s Littlest Pet Shop. In 2019, Ulve created fine art that is displayed at the INNSIDE New York NoMad in New York City. During May 2020, Ulve was asked to create Game of Thrones characters in Skyrim’s character creator for Ars Technica. In September 2020, she created illustrations for the annual USPS holiday stamp collection.

Ulve frequently makes the American Illustrator Annual edition.

She has also participated in the following shows and projects:


 * Girls, Girls, Girls (with artist Fafi) Sixspace Gallery in Los Angeles, 2003
 * Pictures You Will Like! (solo show) Gallery Lele, Tokyo, 2005
 * Pictures You Will Like! (solo show) Gallery Hanahou, NYC, 2007
 * Prints and Pages (group show) Gallery Hanahou, NYC, 2011
 * Project Angel Food's GET ART, Los Angeles, CA, 2013
 * Explorers against Extinction, 2020
 * Best Friends Animal Society, 2020

Critical reception
Ulve has been favorably reviewed by critics. Grace Bonney of Design Sponge said, "...her work has a sort of 50’s aesthetic to it, but can range from retro to ultra-contemporary with an air of japanimation... while her snail mail stationery continues to get me moving to and from the post office, her individual illustrations are strong enough to be works of art themselves.... if you’re too greedy to send them out, do what i do- take each page and frame it, perfect for kids’ rooms or fun bathroom art."

The staff of Entertainment Weekly wrote,

"...she’s become a frequent contributor to our News & Notes section, as well as to special issues. Next, Ulve’s work will be exhibited at the gallery at Cross World Connections in Tokyo this fall, the native Iowan remains charmingly humble about her sharp, color-happy images: 'If I can do this,' she insists, 'anyone can.'"

Sarah Strong of Downtown Magazine said of Ulve's installations at the INNSIDE by Meliá New York Hotel, "'Each piece is crisp, graphic, and inspired by Kirsten’s love for New York City, which she made her home in 1996. The artwork compliments INNSIDE by Meliá New York’s stylish and contemporary interiors designed for the modern city visitor.'"