New Exhibition Focuses on Book Illustrators Balbusso Twins

Artistic duo Anna and Elena Balbusso known as the Balbusso Twins will present their first solo exhibition later this month at the Society of Illustrators in New York.

Balbusso Twins: Illustrating with Two Souls which runs April 15 through July 11 will showcase a selection of their work in illustration, art, and design, with more than 100 artworks on view including illustrated books, covers, portraits, and magazine illustrations, as well as posters on social topics. A selection of physical books is also on display featuring awardwinning editions from The Folio Society and Beehive Books, as well as illustrated albums for American publishers like Penguin Random House and The Creative Company. 

"The exhibition aims to communicate to young people and all art lovers that even in commercial art, there is space for authentic,  personal, multidisciplinary artisanal work characterized by the courage to innovate and experiment," said a spokesperson for the Society. "The Balbusso Twins’ unique artistic path defies trends, embracing innovation, and dialogue between commercial needs and a free artistic approach, merging seemingly opposite souls: commercial and artistic, pictorial and graphic, conceptual and decorative, figurative and abstract."

Anna and Elena Balbusso graduated in painting from the Fine Arts Brera Academy in Milan. In addition to pursuing graphic design, photography, and printmaking techniques, they also studied art history, aesthetics, philosophy, and history at the University of Milan’s Faculty of Modern Literature. They have received four gold medals at the Society of Illustrators’  Annual Show, including three consecutive in the ‘Books’ category (2011-2013).

At the exhibition's opening reception on May 14 the Balbussos will also receive the 2026 Hamilton King Award, which recognizes the best work in the Illustrators Annual Exhibition executed by a member of the Society, the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the art of illustration. 

Illustrating with Two Souls is presented  in partnership with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which will feature a preview of the exhibition at the 2026 Fair April 13-16.