Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

Te Aho-White, Isobel Joy (1988– ) earned a bachelor’s degree (hons) in graphic design and illustration from Massey University in 2015 and a Diploma in Visual Arts from the Universal College of Arts in 2012.

Her illustration work on Santa’s Worst Christmas (2019), published by Huia, was nominated for the New Zealand Children and Young Adult Book Awards across five categories. Her book Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep (2020), written by Victoria Cleal and published by Te Papa Press, won a Whitley award for Best Children’s Book.

Isobel illustrated Witi Ihimaera's novel Te Kōkōrangi/The Astromancer (2022), as well as The Maori Picture Dictionary/Te Papakupu Whakaahua by Margaret Sinclair and Ross Calman (2022).

Much of Isobel’s work incorporates plant life native to Aotearoa and explores themes such as mana wahine, kaitiakitanga, te taiao, and ancestral healing. She works in a variety of media – including ink, watercolour, acrylic, oil, and gold leaf. Beyond children’s book illustration, her services include graphic design, editorial, and community mural work.