Illustrative is the leading international forum for contemporary illustration and graphic arts. Every year at two different creative cities around the world, the exhibition displays an inspiring collection of current illustrative und graphical art with over 600 works from more than 60 artists.

Over the course of two weeks, the festival celebrates the illustrative arts, presents new talents and trends, exchanges ideas, marvels at progressive technologies, and rediscovers forgotten styles. Illustrative features an exclusive exhibition and shows works from 60 internationally recognised illustrators in addition to hosting conferences, a film program, and parties. Illustrative displays not only the quality and fantasy of the latest graphic arts but also shows how the visual effects of graphic design, illustration, book art, comics, concept art, and animation spill into and influence the field of art.
The exhibition is accompanied by the Young Illustrator Award. The exhibition highlighting the contest winners will display the most intuitive inclinations of the genre and is an exciting measure for new trends.

Established in Berlin in 2006, Illustrative has been held twice in Berlin (2006/2007), once in Paris (2007), and once in Zürich (2008). To guarantee the topicality of the exhibition, before every Illustrative the art works are reconsidered by a curatorial committee lead by Berlin-based curator Pascal Johanssen.