Santiago Cohen is a New Jersey based artist, animator, illustrator, and author whose work is distinguished by its ambitious storytelling and richly layered narratives. Through his oil paintings, Cohen intertwines surrealist elements with the real world, creating vivid and striking characters that blur the boundaries between memory, myth, and reality. As a Mexican American artist, Cohen’s work explores themes of identity, culture, migration, and social consciousness through immersive world building and striking imagery. His paintings are marked by bold contrasts and vibrant palettes, presenting humanity in a deeply expressive and fantastical light. In addition to his fine art practice, Cohen has built an extensive career as an illustrator and designer, contributing to numerous children’s books and collaborating with distinguished animators at HBO, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon to create captivating characters and imaginative visual narratives. Beyond animation, Cohen has worked as both an author and illustrator on several book publications, most recently Secrets of a Lost Diary, alongside his acclaimed trilogy Exvida: A Story of Migration. The project is an ambitious autobiographical work that reflects on his childhood growing up in post-World War II Mexico and his migration to New York City during the 1980s, weaving together personal history with his oil painting practice. Cohen has exhibited his artwork throughout New Jersey, Mexico, and New York City. Most recently, his work was featured at Art Fair 14C, with additional works on display at The Grange and Oso Felipe. Across both his paintings and illustrations, Cohen’s work functions as a unified exploration of the human experience, demonstrating his unique ability to transform fragments of personal and collective history into vibrant, imaginative worlds.
Artist Statement
Through my art, I weave together threads of identity, culture, and social objectivity. As a Mexican American artist, I aim to transport viewers into the hearts of my characters, inviting them to embark on emotional journeys that spark empathy, reflection, and connection.
I usually work in different mediums where I weave together fragments of memory, myth, and surreal history, creating richly textured worlds that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2026 – Oil and Mixed Media “Pigmented Perceptions” Exhibition
Education
Pratt Institute, New York, NY
M.S. in Communication Design, 1985
Metropolitan University, Mexico City, Mexico
B.F.A. in Communication Design, 1979
Art Students League of New York
Printmaking (Silkscreen, Woodcut, Etching) under Michael Pellettieri, 2012–2019
Awards
2020
Best in Show | Studio Montclair
2019
Honorable Mention, National Juried Exhibition | Barrett Art Center
2010
Washington State Book Award | Before You Were Here, Mi Amor
2009
“Best for Babies” Book Selection | Parents Magazine
2005
American Illustration 25 | Winner, Selected Work (The Wild)
2001
Xeric Foundation Grant | The Fifth Name
1999
ASIFA-East Excellence in Design Award | ASIFA-East
1998
First Place, Animation Design | ASIFA-East
1997
Second Place, Animation Design | ASIFA-East
Bronze Award | Broadcast Designers Association (TELE-TV Station ID)
1992
Bronze Award | Broadcast Designers Association (Comedy Central Logo)
Bronze Award | Broadcast Designers Association (Comedy Central Brochure)
Honors
1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 — American Illustration | Selected Works / Annuals
2000 Contributor to HBO’s Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Tales (Emmy- and Peabody-recognized production)
1997 Contributor to HBO’s How Do You Spell God? (Emmy-recognized children’s programming)
1996–2000 Animation contributor to HBO children’s programming, including How Do You Spell God? and Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Tales recognized with Peabody Awards
Professional Work
1982–present Freelance Illustrator and Designer
1992–2004 Art Director & Designer of Animated Shorts, TV Programs, and Commercials
1986-1988 Associate Art Director, Ink Tank
Exhibitions
2014–2026 Annual Day of the Dead Community Exhibition, Jersey City Cemetery, Local Galleries & Public Spaces, Jersey City, NJ
2024–2025
Art Fair 14C Jersey City, NJ
Fine Art Exhibition The Grange Restaurant, Warwick, NJ
Fine Art Exhibition Oso & Felipe Restaurant, Montclair, NJ
2024
The Art of Storytelling Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ
Garden State Art Weekend NJ
CRAWL Show Hoboken, NJ
2023
Santiago Cohen: A Retrospective of Narrative Hoboken Public Library Gallery, Hoboken, NJ
2019–2023
Fear III: Visiting Death, Plaxall Gallery, New York City, NY
Protest Art Time & Space Limited Gallery, Hudson, NY
Expresiones LatinX I & II Various Venues, NJ
Viewpoints, Studio Montclair Montclair, NJ
Curator’s Choice, Casa Colombo Jersey City, NJ
National Juried Exhibition (Honorable Mention) Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
2022
Art from the Edge, Stay Home Gallery, Paris, TN
2019
New Jersey Arts Annual, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ
2018
Exodus and Identity: New Paintings Benjamin J. Dineen, III and Dennis C. Hull Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
2017
Bridging the Border Mulberry Street Gallery, Newark, NJ
2015
The Fifth Name: Original Graphic Novel Plates, Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, NJ
Illustrators 57 Annual Exhibition, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
2014
Hispanic Kaleidoscope, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ
2013
Santiago Cohen: Memory and Metaphor Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ
2012
The Fine Art of Illustration Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
2010
Lines of Communication Monroe Center for the Arts, Hoboken, NJ
2009
Dualities: Contemporary Mexican-American Artists Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
2006
The Art of the Holiday Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design Space, New York, NY
2004
Santiago Cohen: New Oil Paintings Mexican Cultural Institute, New York, NY
2002
Pratt Alumni Fine Art Exhibition Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, NY
1998
Contemporary Mexican Illustrators Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico
1993
MoMA Animation Presentation Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
JCAST Open Studios, Jersey City, NJ
Historical Highlight Solo Show: ExVida, MUNO Museum of Contemporary Art, Zacatecas, Mexico
Historical Highlight Documenta Archive, Kassel, Germany
Historical Highlight Solo Show: Casa del Lago, Mexico City, Mexico
Historical Highlights Various Solo and Group Exhibitions, New York, New Jersey, Mexico, Germany, Japan
Contact
Instagram: @Lefthandart1