New National Center to Champion Illustration as Vital Art Form Amid Rise of AI
London – A new national institution, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, is set to open in May 2026, dedicated to celebrating and exploring all facets of illustration at a time when the art form faces both challenges and renewed appreciation in the age of artificial intelligence. The Centre, envisioned by the celebrated illustrator Sir Quentin Blake, aims to recognize illustration as a vital part of British heritage and education, and to foster visual literacy in an era of increasing misinformation.
The move comes as a counterpoint to anxieties surrounding the impact of AI on creative fields. While acknowledging AI’s potential to disrupt editorial and advertising visuals, artist and author Oliver Jeffers argues that illustration’s enduring power lies in its uniquely human connection. “Photography did not replace painting.Video didn’t kill the radio star,” Jeffers writes. “We as a species will always have a need to visually clarify,connect and communicate on a human level.”
Jeffers points to the recent waning interest in NFTs as evidence of a desire for authenticity.”Just as the NFT bubble burst when people realised they don’t necessarily feel a human connection with something so… well… digital, we are already beginning to see a small but steady return to the handmade.” He emphasizes that illustration, unlike machine-generated imagery, evokes feeling - a key element of communication, as highlighted by Maya Angelou: “people seldom remember what you said, but they remember how you made them feel.”
The Centre for Illustration will serve as a permanent home for the art form, encompassing children’s book illustration, album art, theatre posters, protest placards, and other visual languages.Jeffers,a trustee of the Centre,believes its timing is “couldn’t be more timely,” especially in combating misinformation through enhanced visual literacy.
Oliver jeffers’ latest book, I’m Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book, is available at guardianbookshop.com. Further facts about the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration can be found at qbcentre.org.uk.
