Commercial Proposals
New Project Proposals & Commissions
If you have a new assignment or collaboration to propose, please visit our CONTACT US page.
To help us evaluate your request efficiently, please write to our Shannon Associates Team via email info@shannonassociates.com (Phone: +1 212.333.2551) with everything we should know about the project, including:
• The Timeline & Schedule
• The Budget & Usage
• The Style & Aesthetic Direction
• The Number of Images & Subject Matter
• The Project's Objectives & Goals
Our team will review your proposal and provide you with all the necessary information quickly. Many thanks for your help!
Direct Contacts & Credits
Special Projects & Fine Press
For limited editions, private commissions, or special artistic collaborations, you can reach our studio directly.
Please visit our CONTACT US page and fill out our contact form. Your request will reach us immediately. We welcome proposals for:
• Gallery exhibitions, art shows, and museum invitations
• Stock Image Licensing (to use our existing images, please visit our STOCK LICENSING page)
• Interviews and press/blog features
• International competition jury invitations
• Talks, lectures, and panel proposals (please note: we do not conduct workshops)
• Non-profit initiatives and special events
International Events & Art Exhibitions
© 2000-2026 Anna and Elena Balbusso. All rights reserved. | Contact: info@balbussotwins.com
All Balbusso Twins images and content are copyrighted. No Machine Learning, No AI. You may not use our images, our name (as authors), or any content of this website (including any caption information, keywords, or other metadata associated with the content) for any machine learning and/or artificial intelligence purposes.
The artworks featured on this website cannot be used for commercial purposes by any third parties without explicit written permission from the copyright holders, Anna and Elena Balbusso Twins. Any violation of this right constitutes an infringement of copyright law and is subject to legal prosecution.
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Welcome to our Exhibitions page. A curated journey across 113 international exhibitions and historic milestones spanning over 25 years of career.
Throughout our career, our contemporary artworks have been showcased in numerous prestigious galleries, museums, and international institutions worldwide.
This section features a comprehensive chronicle of our solo exhibitions (including our major solo exhibit at the Society of Illustrators in New York) and curated group exhibitions worldwide. Our fine art pieces continue to bridge the gap between conceptual illustration and gallery-space visual storytelling, drawing the attention of art collectors and cultural institutions globally.
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND! UNTIL SEPT 12!
Our Solo Exhibition: Balbusso Twins. Illustrating with Two Souls
Inside our world! We are thrilled to welcome you to the Society of Illustrators in New York for our solo exhibition, "Balbusso Twins. Illustrating with Two Souls".
The New York Solo Exhibition & Historic Milestones
A central chapter of our international exhibition history is closely tied to the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York City. On the occasion of our 25th career anniversary, the Society curated our major solo exhibition, 'Balbusso Twins: Illustrating with Two Souls' (April 15 – September 12, 2026). We are proud to announce that this landmark retrospective is presented in official partnership with Pentagram Design and the Bologna Children's Book Fair, featuring a selection of 130 works with an official catalog beautifully designed by Pentagram.
This landmark retrospective coincided with our acceptance of the historic 2026 Hamilton King Award. Furthermore, our studio is deeply honored to have an artwork selected for the institutional exhibition celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Society of Illustrators (May 16 – August 8, 2026), cementing our place among the very few Italian artists permanently woven into the history of American illustration.
Come and explore a curated selection of 130 works celebrating our 25-year career, including the illustrations that won us the historic 2026 Hamilton King Award! Whether you are in New York or just passing through, don’t miss the chance to experience this journey between our two souls: painterly and graphic.
Official poster “ A Special Preview Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026. ”Balbusso Twins. Illustrating with Two Souls" Society of Illustrators NYC.
Official poster of the solo exhibition "Balbusso Twins. Illustrating with Two Souls" at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
Exclusive Limited Edition Exhibition Catalogue
We are also thrilled to share that an exclusive exhibition catalogue is available to accompany the show. This is a very special, strictly limited edition of only 500 copies.
This beautiful volume was entirely designed, produced, and sponsored by the legendary design studio Pentagram Texas. This project was made possible solely through their immense generosity. We would like to express our deepest, warmest, and most heartfelt thanks to DJ Stout and Davian-Lynn Hopkins for their extraordinary support, passion, and dedication in turning this dream into reality.
Exhibition Details
Dates: April 15 – September 12, 2026
Venue: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd St, New York
Artworks On View: 130 selected pieces from 25 years of international career
Official Partners: Pentagram Design & Bologna Children's Book Fair
Plan Your Visit
Discover opening hours, directions, and admission details on the official website: societyillustrators.org [1]
Special Preview: Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026
Before opening in New York, the exhibition project enjoyed an exclusive Special Preview at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026, our official partner for this event. On April 14 (1:45 PM – 2:30 PM), we hosted a highly successful launch panel at the Designers’ Studio (Hall 29 BCBF). The event featured an inspiring conversation with legendary designer DJ Stout (Pentagram Austin) and Arabelle Liepold (SI), beautifully moderated by Steven Guarnaccia. The talk was followed by a celebratory toast right in front of our exhibition preview, marking a perfect collaboration between Italy and New York.
Recent Press & Highlights
PRINT Magazine (The Daily Heller) — May 5, 2026
The Daily Heller: Four Eyes With One Vision by Steven Heller
“The Balbusso Twins see their collaboration as a symbiotic process where they ‘melt into a single multi-creative identity.’ With extinction hanging over the illustration world, Anna and Elena are the toast of the town for reinvigorating the conceptually decorative.”
Publishers Weekly — April 13, 2026
For Art Director DJ Stout, the Best Illustration Begins with Getting out of the Way
“The best illustrators are really smart conceptual thinkers... When Elena and Anna Balbusso send preliminary sketches, each direction arrives with a carefully worded paragraph explaining the concept and research behind it.”
Fine Books & Collections Magazine — April 13, 2026
New Exhibition Focuses on Book Illustrators Balbusso Twins
“A deep dive into the extensive publishing career and striking visual language of the twin illustrators as they debut their solo exhibition in New York.”
Publishers Weekly — March 27, 2026
Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026 Preview: BolognaBookPlus Embraces Designers and Writers | Author: Publishers Weekly Staff
“Announcing the global preview of the Balbusso Twins' 25th-anniversary career retrospective before its official opening in New York City.”
Balbusso Twins & Society of Illustrators NYC
Celebrating 25 Years of Career & 125 Years of Art History!
If you visit the Society of Illustrators, you will also have the incredible chance to see the exhibition celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Society of Illustrators (on view from May 16th to August 8th), where one of our artworks is proudly included and, at the same time, explore our solo show “Balbusso Twins. Illustrating with two Souls”.
"Gracelle's Heart" cover art for Macmillan Saturday Books, included in the 125th Anniversary Exhibition
Official poster of the 125th Anniversary Exhibition at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
We are deeply honored to announce a historic milestone that marks an absolute pinnacle in our artistic journey. On the occasion of the celebrations for the 125th Anniversary of the Society of Illustrators in New York, our artwork "Gracelle's Heart" (cover art for Macmillan Saturday Books) has been officially included in the institution's prestigious historical exhibition. To see our work permanently woven into the history of this legendary American institution — our home away from home — is an immense honor.
This exceptional recognition consolidates our presence in New York, where our Solo Exhibition is also currently on view, celebrating our 25 years of international career. Being embraced by the history of American illustration art while simultaneously hosting a monographic retrospective in the very same building crowns a memorable year. This follows our recent receipt of the prestigious Hamilton King Award, where we were recognized as the first Italian illustrators in history to win this accolade.
An Independent Success
This international achievement rewards a path of absolute independence. It stands as tangible proof that true excellence is built solely on merit, hard work, consistency, and complete stylistic and intellectual coherence. We celebrate 25 years of career, proud to represent Italian art and creativity in the ultimate temple of global illustration.
Institutional Highlight: The Jella Lepman Exhibition in Trieste
On the occasion of the 39th IBBY International Congress (International Board on Books for Young People), our work was featured in the prestigious exhibition "Let us start with children. Books as bridges" ("Fateci cominciare dai bambini. I libri come ponti").
Dedicated to the extraordinary life of journalist, writer, and IBBY founder Jella Lepman, the exhibition opened on August 28, 2024, at the Umberto Veruda Hall (Piazza Piccola 2) in Trieste, Italy, and remained open until September 8, 2024.
Ibby official poster
"The Letter" by Anna and Elena Balbusso
We were deeply honored to be invited to participate with our exclusive artwork, inspired by a pivotal episode in Jella Lepman's life. Curated by Silvana Sola, David Tolin, and Paola Vassalli, this high-profile group show brought together 20 renowned Italian and international artists, including Beatrice Alemagna, Cinzia Ghigliano, Luogo Comune, Linda Bondestam, Maria Giron, Page Tsou, Issa Watanabe, and Ajubel, alongside our studio.
Art Exhibitions & International Events
A curated selection of 113 international exhibitions and historic milestones spanning over 25 years of career.
- 2026 Balbusso Twins. Illustrating With Two Souls, solo exhibition, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US (April 15 - September 12)
- 2026 Balbusso Twins. Illustrating With Two Souls, Special Preview, Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026, Bologna, IT (April 13 - 16)
- 2026 Illustrators 68 Part Two, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2025 The Art of Folio, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2025 Au cœur de la forêt Exhibition, Reims Carnegie Library, Reims, France
- 2025 Jella Lepman, curated by IBBY, Bologna Children's Book Fair 2025, Bologna, IT
- 2025 Jackets Off! The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, curated by BolognaBookPlus, Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bologna, IT
- 2025 Illustrators 67 Part Two, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2024 FRAMEWORKS: The Art of Building, The 2024 Society of Illustrators Members’ Open Exhibition, New York, NY, US
- 2024 Jella Lepman - 9th IBBY European Regional Conference, Umberto Veruda Hall, Trieste, IT
- 2024 Illustrators 66, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2023 Illustrators 65, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2022 Illustrators 64, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2021-2025 Tolerance Poster Show, international traveling poster exhibition curated by Mirko Ilić, The Tolerance Project, US
- 2021 Illustrators 63, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2020 Illustrators 62, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2019 The AOI World Illustration Awards Exhibition, Somerset House, London, UK
- 2019 ILLUSTRI - Illustri Festival 2019, Basilica Palladiana, Vicenza, IT (May 18 - June 23)
- 2019 The 57th Annual Exhibition Illustration West, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, US
- 2019 Illustrators 61, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2018 The AOI World Illustration Awards Exhibition, Somerset House, London, UK
- 2018 The Art of Illustration, curated by Liza Wynette, Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL, US
- 2018 Illustration: Women Making A Mark, University of Indianapolis - Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, US
- 2018 Illustrators 60 Exhibit Part One, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2017 The Artful Book: 70 Years of The Folio Society, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
- 2017 35th International Exhibition of Children's Book Illustration: Le Immagini della Fantasia, Štěpán Zavřel Foundation, House of Creativity, Sàrmede, Monza and other cities, IT
- 2017 The AOI World Illustration Awards Exhibition, Somerset House & Traveling Show, London, UK
- 2017 Book Illustration Competition Exhibition, House of Illustration, London, UK
- 2017 Millions of Steps (Milioni di passi), exhibition for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Illustri Festival, BASE Milano & Illustrators Biennial, Vicenza, IT
- 2017 Illustrators 59, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2017 Illustration West 55, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, US
- 2016 Normal Wonder: The Hand (Normali meraviglie: la mano), curated by Alessandro Guerriero and Alessandra Zucchi, Triennale Milano, Milan, IT
- 2016 Drawn to the Music: 27th Members Open, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2016 99 Italian Illustrators, Turin Graphic Days, Toolbox, Turin, IT
- 2016 The AOI World Illustration Awards Exhibition, Somerset House & Traveling Show, UK
- 2016 Point Of Vision: Celebrating Women Artists in Fantasy and Science Fiction, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2016 W. Women in Italian Design - 21st Triennale International Exhibition, Triennale Design Museum, Milan, IT
- 2016 Children's and Young Adult Illustration: Italian Excellence, traveling exhibition, Bologna Children's Book Fair, Italian Cultural Institutes (IIC) in Madrid, Berlin, Sofia and other cities
- 2016 Illustrators 58, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2015 Illustration West 53, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, US
- 2015 Illustrators 57, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2014 Spectrum, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2014 Childhood and Dance Exhibition, Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bologna, IT
- 2014 Illustrators 56, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2013 Woman Exhibition, Hall of Columns, Edison Cinema, Parma, Tapirulan Association and LILT, IT
- 2013 The AOI Illustration Awards Exhibition, Somerset House, London, UK
- 2013 V&A Illustration Awards, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
- 2013 Illustration: At Your Service!, Suffolk University's Adams Gallery, Boston, MA, US
- 2013 Illustrators 55, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US (and US Traveling Show)
- 2012 Illustrators 54, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2012 Applied Arts Winners Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
- 2011 Illustrators 53, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US (and US Traveling Show)
- 2011 29th International Exhibition of Children's Book Illustration: Le Immagini della Fantasia, Štěpán Zavřel Foundation, Town Hall of Sàrmede, IT
- 2010 Applied Arts Winners Exhibition, Artscape Wychwood Barns, Toronto, Canada
- 2010 Illustrators 52, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2009 Grand Opening, The 4th Wall Gallery, Dallas, TX, US
- 2009 1st CJ Picture Book Festival, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 2009 Illustrators 51, Museum of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, US
- 2007 Pippi nelle Figure, curated by Giannino Stoppani Cultural Co-operative, Municipality of Bologna, Palazzo d'Accursio, Bologna, IT
- 2006 Illustrissimi Exhibition, Villa Franceschi Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Riccione, IT
- 2005 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition in Japan, traveling show: Itabashi Art Museum (Tokyo), Otani Memorial Art Museum (Nishinomiya), Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum (Ishikawa), Kawara Museum of Takahama City (Aichi), Japan
- 2005 ANNA+ELENA=BALBUSSO Illustrations, 53rd Premio Bancarella, Convento della Nunziata, Pontremoli, IT
- 2005 60 Partisan Testimonies (60 testimonianze partigiane), Cervi Museum, Gattatico, Istituto Cervi, ANPI, Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Zoo Libri, IT
- 2005 Fiction Illustrators Exhibition, Bologna Children's Book Fair 2005, Bologna, IT
- 2005 Paper Mermaids and Ink Soldiers: Italian Illustrators for the 200th Anniversary of H.C. Andersen, Andersen Magazine, Province of Rome Cultural Policy Department, Docet, Bologna Book Fair, IT
- 2005 The Other Half of Pinocchio: A Puppet and Her Female Illustrators, Casina Pompeiana - Villa Comunale, Naples, IT
- 2003 For a Manifesto of the Writers of the Sign (Per un manifesto degli scrittori del segno), Sormani Palace - Central Library, Milan, IT
- 2003 Fantasia 2003 - Sports Pages, International Children's Illustrators Exhibition, Stadio della Vittoria, Bari, IT
- 2003 L'una & un quarto: Moon, Dreams and Illustrations, Italian Cultural Institute of Strasbourg, Province of Genoa, Bibliothèque Départementale du Bas-Rhin, Association "Le Maettle" Les Arts au Vert, La Clairière Stosswihr, La Bouquinette, CRDP d'Alsace, Strasbourg, France
- 2003 Colored Puppet Wood: New Figures for Pinocchio, Docet Children's Book Fair, Bologna, IT
- 2003 Unique Poster: Imaginary Posters for Great Non-Existent Movies, Cineteca di Bologna, Municipality of Bologna, IT
- 2003 100 Valentine's Days by Designers, curated by Luca Novelli, Teatro Franco Parenti, Milan, IT
- 2002 The Other Half of Pinocchio, Library System Center, Province of Genoa, Palazzo San Giorgio, Genoa, IT
- 2002 Burning in the Wind (Brucio nel vento), Anteo Spazio Cinema, Milan, IT
- 2001-2002 Hidden Stars (Le stelle nascoste), Department of Culture of the Piedmont Region, City of Turin, L'Osservatorio dell'Immaginario, ETI (Ente Teatrale Italiano), IT
- 2001 Exhibition of Angela Nanetti's Book "Mio nonno era un ciliegio", Einaudi Ragazzi, Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt, Germany
- 2001 BIB ’01 - 18th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bibiana International House of Art for Children, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
- 2001 L'una & un quarto: Moon, Dreams and Illustrations, Traveling Show: Library System Center, Province of Genoa; Carlo Felice Theatre, Genoa; Imola Public Library; Ca’ Vecchia Library, Lugo, IT
- 2001 Mediterranea: Illustrators Tell the Story of the Sea (Mediterranea: gli illustratori raccontano il mare), Civic Aquarium, Municipality of Milan - Culture and Museums Department, Milan, IT
- 2000 The Invisible City (La città invisibile), Passerini Landi Public Library, ASM Piacenza and Municipality of Piacenza, Piacenza, IT
- 2000 Vanishing Points (Punti di fuga), Openspace, Municipality of Milan - Youth Department, Milan, IT
- 2000 Unique Poster (Poster unico), Anteo Spazio Cinema, Milan, IT
- 2000 Megacities - Cities of the Future, Thessaloniki, Greece
- 2000 BWI 2000 - Bratislava World Illustrations 2000, Hiroko Mori & Stasys Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- 2000 Italian Pencils (Matite Italiane), International Children's Book Fair Bologna 2000, Bologna, IT
- 2000 The Cities of the Future and the Future of Cities, L’Affiche Gallery, Milan, IT
- 1999 Fantasia '99: The Sea, Municipality of Bari, IT
- 1999 BIB ’99 - 17th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bibiana International House of Art for Children, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia
- 1999 Characters in Search of an Author (Personaggi in cerca d’Autore), L’Affiche Gallery, Milan, IT
- 1998 On the Wings of Butterflies (Sulle ali delle farfalle), Bordano (Udine), IT
- 1998 Iconosfera ‘98, "Un libro in tasca" Exhibition Market, Belgioioso Castle Exhibition Center, Belgioioso (Pavia), IT
- 1998 In the Face of It, 1998! (Alla faccia, 1998!), L’Affiche Gallery, Milan, IT
- 1998 III Italian Culture Week in Cuba (Havana & Cienfuegos), Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cuba, Italian Embassy in Cuba, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Palacio del Segundo Cabo, Havana, Cuba
- 1997 Giufà Many Stories: The Voyages of the Arabian Nights, Civic Library, Enna, IT
- 1997 Edit Expo, Book Exhibition and Market, Vicenza Fair, Vicenza, IT
- 1997 They Drew It (L’Hanno disegnato), L’Affiche Gallery, Milan, IT
- 1997 Contemporary Hungarian and Italian Illustration, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
- 1996 They Drew It (L’Hanno disegnato), Iperspazio Gallery, Milan, IT
- 1995 Coop: 150 Years of Cooperation (Coop, 150 anni di cooperazione), Lombardy Region, Milan, IT
- 1993 Exhibition Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
- 1993 Annual Illustratori 2, Schubert Gallery, Milan, IT