Kuukua Wilson •  Medical Illustrator

Section Styles spotlight-header

 

I am a

MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR

Kuukua Wilson

Presented by AMGEN Foundation
MY PATH

How I became an artist, explorer, and medical illustrator.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

I’ve always felt like I’m living two creative lives.

In one part of my life, I apply my research and artistic skills to communicate medical ideas. In the other, I create art for myself as a practice of expression and personal reflection. While they’re separate pursuits, they often feed each other, and pursuing both keeps me inspired and growing.

Major Milestones


Moving to the USA

I moved to the USA when I was ten years old. This move was a huge change in my life as the cultures and lifestyles were so different.

Discovering Medical Illustration

I did a medical illustration project and got a job working at the Atlanta Zoo. Discovering that I could combine my love of illustration with science was a turning point for me.

Attending Graduate School

I moved to the Netherlands to pursue my Masters degree in medical illustration. I learned the importance of making medical communications more inclusive of different communities and that became a priority for me.

Launching my Career

I began working for medical and biotechnology companies where I now create images that capture different devices, illnesses, and discoveries for medical resources.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Let go of perfectionism.

    When I started my Masters, it was expensive and demanding. I felt like I had to do everything perfectly and get straight A’s in order to make it worth it. I had to learn to let go so I could enjoy the journey. I’m still learning to let myself be driven by joy and pursuit, instead of being led by the fear of not doing or being enough.

  • Just because you haven’t heard of something, doesn't mean it can't exist.

    I had never heard of scientific or medical illustration growing up, so I didn’t even know it was a possibility at first. It wasn’t until I realized the kind of work I liked doing, and then took the initiative to look for fields that did that work, that I discovered a career path that no one ever mentioned in school.

  • Every choice is a step towards becoming the person I want to be.

    We never stop growing and changing, so I see each stage of my life as part of the story. I have an idea in my head of who I want to be, but I’m constantly reflecting on how to live a full life in the moment and take the next best step towards becoming her.

  • The best program is the one that feeds you.

    John Hopkins University has one of the top programs in the Medical & Scientific Illustration fields. For financial reasons, it wasn’t the right fit for me, and I realized that the best program is different for everyone. I just needed to find the right fit for me.

Looking for teacher resources?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Alina Milbradt • Illustrator: NEST Design

© 2024 THE PLENARY, CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS. PRIVACY.

This is a brand new site! See an issue? Let us know.