Yoriyuki Ikegami
Ikegami debuted in Ultimate Zenith with her special illustration of Gardenia's Vigor, a vibrant version of the Grass-type Gym Leader calmly tending various flowers alongside popular Grass-type Pokémon, such as an Ivysaur whose bulb blends almost seamlessly with the flower forest.
Jerky
Jerky has already illustrated 17 different Pokémon TCG cards since debuting earlier this year with a luminous depiction of Lumineon V glowing beneath the sea in Ultimate Zenith . His works beautifully showcase the whimsical nature of Pokémon in their everyday lives, whether they’re searching for food, out for a swim, or just out having fun.
Kantaro
Supreme Zenith marked the arrival of a wave of talented new artists to the Pokémon TCG. And Kantaro is another addition who debuted with the final set of the Pokémon era. Sword and Shield . Since then, he has illustrated more than 20 cards, including the story told in this trio of cards. Scarlet and Purple—Evolutions in Paldea . Delight in Kantaro’s use of bright colors and cheerful environments, showcasing the ever-changing bond that unites a Trainer and their Pokémon in this series of trips to the shop.
Rika
Rika’s illustrations are just beginning their run in the Pokémon TCG, with four cards featuring them already appearing since their debut with Moonlit Umbreon from the Scarlet and Purple—Obsidian Flames expansion . Her artwork is reminiscent of classic watercolor paintings, adding an extra touch of depth to the characters and their surroundings. The more you look, the more you’ll feel like you’re actually inside the illustration.
Tetsu Kayama
Three of the chosen illustrators debuted with the Scarlet and Purple—Obsidian Flames expansion , which introduced numerous new artists. Tetsu Kayama debuted in this expansion with the duo Lunatone and Solrock.
Something that stands out in all of Kayama's illustrations is the pointillist style that provides a great variety of textures to the protagonists and environments, allowing the observer to always see a new perspective on even the most classic Pokémon.
Oku
Oku, who debuted a unique version of Scizor in the Scarlet and Purple—Obsidian Flames expansion , depicts Pokémon with high contrast lighting and shadows. What sets Oku apart from the rest is how it changes its backgrounds to emphasize each Pokémon’s scene. In the illustration, two Scizor can be seen battling it out in an anime-style setting against a moving red background that matches the intensity of the fight, while the lighting and shadows on the tree trunks in Orbeetle’s illustration highlight the Pokémon’s hypnotic glow.
REND
In 2022, Creatures Inc. continued its traditional annual Pokémon illustration contest themed around “the daily life of a Pokémon,” and REND from Japan took home the top prize. To commemorate REND’s fantastic work, a promotional card was created featuring his sleepy Arcanine alongside illustrations from the next qualifiers from the United States and Japan. What a spectacular debut into the Pokémon TCG! REND’s use of dim lighting and love of depicting wild Pokémon in their everyday lives continued with a group of Pawmi taking a nap in the forest.
Toriyufu
Like many other notable artists, toriyufu first showed his talents with the Scarlet and Purple—Obsidian Flames expansion , and has illustrated two Pokémon to date, Entei and Aegislash EX, that all have a common theme: dynamic movement. Lines are typically used to represent movement, but toriyufu employs this technique in a way that befits the actions, as seen in the orange flames that flicker in the wind from Entei’s claws.
USGMEN
USGMEN's work will soon be available in a new Pokémon TCG expansion, but his experience and talent in drawing are already well known among Pokémon fans on various social networks, such as Twitter and Instagram. His specialty is illustrating Pokémon in an adorable and cheerful way, with characteristic dots for eyes and a straight line to form the protagonist's face.
MINAMINAMI Take
Most Pokémon TCG cards are released with new expansions, whether they are larger or smaller, although promo cards with a black star in the lower left corner continue to be released parallel to expansions throughout the year. And MINAMINAMI Take's arrival in the Pokémon TCG was precisely with these promo cards, specifically with the Charmander from the Scarlet and Purple—Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box . After seeing this adorable Charmander with its hands and face pressed against the window while looking at a Pidgey in an almost impressionistic style, we can't wait to see what else he illustrates!