Ukrainian illustrator wins international award for war-themed works

“I am happy to share that this series of illustrations from my book Homebound has won the 67th Annual Illustration Competition by Communication Arts. Many thanks to the jury,” Margarita Winkler wrote.

The winning illustrations from the American publication’s competition are featured in Homebound, a book by the Ukrainian illustrator. In the book, Winkler compiled works depicting the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

She created Homebound in 2024, and in November 2025 the book was published by the Italian publishing house Orecchio Acerbo.

“Homebound is a wordless illustrated book about the atrocities of the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, witnessed by a white stork returning to its nest in the spring,” Winkler said about her book.

About the Annual Illustration Competition

In 1959, Richard Coyne and Robert Blanchard founded Communication Arts, the largest international professional journal dedicated to visual communications. The publication organizes the Annual Illustration Competition, an international contest recognizing the best visual works of the year. The 67th edition of the competition was held in 2026.

Over the years, all winning entries have been collected in the print and digital editions of the Communication Arts Illustration Annual. In addition, all winning works are published on the award’s website. Illustrators whose works receive top honors are also awarded a personalized Award of Excellence and certificates.