Myths, Monsters and Otherworldly Visions: Illustrations by Shirley Gong

Singapore-based illustrator Shirley Gong crafts intricate scenes packed with mythological creatures, strange spirits and surreal landscapes, blending traditional East Asian influences with a contemporary sensibility. Now working as a freelance illustrator in Singapore, Shirley studied oil painting at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute before completing a master’s degree in illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Classic Chinese painting and Japanese ukiyo-e are major influences on her work, particularly in the delicate linework, flattened perspectives and restrained color palettes that run through her compositions. Those foundations are pushed into much stranger territory through giant serpents, many-eyed beasts, skeletal figures and cosmic environments, in scenes that often place tiny human characters against creatures and landscapes that feel impossibly vast.

For more of Shirley Gong’s work, check out her portfolio and follow @xunigong on Instagram.

More illustrations via Behance