Holiday Market 2025 Illustrator: El Carrel
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MEET THE ARTIST
El Carrel of L0cal.TV
they/them
Illustration, 2026
Every year ShopColumbia commissions an original illustration to promote our Holiday Market. Get to know this year's illustrator, El Carrel.
ShopColumbia Holiday Market 2025 Illustration by El Carrel
What was your inspiration for the illustration?
My inspiration for the holiday signature image is my ideal holiday day in the city! A wintry day full of shopping and ice skating, with the city just visible in the background. I then added adorable animals to give the image a whimsical feel.
Holiday Market 2025 Poster
How have you benefited from the process of designing this year's illustration and selling with ShopColumbia?
I have benefitted immensely from the process of designing this year's illustration! The team at Shop Columbia was a delight to work with. Shop Columbia has always been an invaluable asset to learning how to sell your work with a shop. Getting that experience to work with a client in a safe and comfortable space was a wonderful experience. And then, getting to see my work printed at such a scale was such an amazing feeling!
ShopColumbia front window display at 619 S Wabash Ave
What are you most looking forward to during the holidays? Do you have any favorite holiday traditions?
During the Holidays, my favorite thing to do is probably drink hot cocoa. This is something you can do all year, but when you are all cozy underneath some blankets, watching the snow, it truly is magical! Now I also love some great Christmas movies! I have to watch Rudolph every year.
Give us an update on any recent projects/artistic life events; what's next for you?
I am going into my last semester here at Columbia, and have been doing a lot of preparation for graduation! I have many solo projects that I work on with preparation for tabling events, to working on my own picture book dummy!
Additional work by El Carrel
Artist Statement
El Carrel is an illustrator studying at Columbia College Chicago. They primarily work with digital techniques to create their 2D illustrations. However, they love many mediums like gouache and clay. El’s greatest passion is in storytelling; they hope to one day use their art to create stories that inspire and create joy in others. Their work uses the power and themes of childhood to comment on their life today. While relating to the theme, “As We Grow,” El comments just how much they have changed from childhood and how there is power in change. They may be a completely different person now, but there is strength and pride in that change.