NBA CREATORS

Presented By

NBA Creators presented by Microsoft Surface is a design-focused program that leverages the NBA and Microsoft’s platforms to elevate and increase exposure of Canadian illustrators and graphic designers who identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic or Latinx. Five Creators will be selected to share their commissioned art and stories throughout the 2022-23 NBA season.

2023 creators

kristina pavao

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@krispavao

past creators

Born in Taiwan and raised in Canada, Jane attended the Art Institute of Vancouver where she discovered Digital Painting. She began to take drawing seriously after receiving commissions for illustrating people and their pets. While Jane took an interest in basketball in Taiwan, when the pandemic hit she became an avid NBA fan again. She expresses her support for the Toronto Raptors and the players through art.

Jane Chiang

Anishinaabe digital artist and painter Jenny Kay Dupuis brings her passions together through fine art, storytelling, and pop culture references - creating a unique style of Woodland Pop Art that uplifts and inspires. Born and raised in Northern Ontario and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation, Jenny Kay's always been making things with her hands from paintings on canvas, to beadwork, to leatherwork, to sculpture. Jenny Kay completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary. Jenny Kay holds a Master of Education and Bachelor of Arts in History and Visual Arts. She is a certified teacher, public speaker and an award-winning, best-selling children's author.

Jenny Kay Dupuis

Pui Yan Fong is a Toronto-based illustrator from Hong Kong. Growing up in Toronto with its variety of professional sports teams, she became a huge sports fan. A large portion of her artwork is aptly focused on sports, in which she captures the dynamic movement and characteristics of the athletes and physical activity itself. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and shown in American Illustration and The Society of Illustrators. Notable clients include Jordan Brand and MLSE.

Pui Yan Fong

Rafael Mayani is a Mexican artist based in Vancouver. An Associate Creative Director at Giant Ant, Rafael is also a freelance illustrator. He studied Industrial Design at UNAM in Mexico City, later pivoting to a Visual Arts course at Atelier Design School in Barcelona. Rafael designs on a Surface Studio and his work can be found in a variety of media, from children's picture books to various magazines and newspapers. He's designed murals in Slovenia, Illustrated a new edition of The Jungle Book, Created a Google Doodle and Art Directed the new intro to Pinky and the Brain.

Rafael Mayani

Kristina Pavao is a multi-disciplinary illustrator and designer based in Toronto. Her work focuses on the use of colours and how they can evoke strong emotional responses and connections from viewers. Many of her influences stem from neo-expressionist work, street art and music. Kristina has worked with many notable clients such as Tridel, Redbull, and the NBA.

Kristina Pavao

Born in Venezuela, raised in Kuwait, Will Selviz emigrated to Canada in 2013, and is an Afro-Caribbean multidisciplinary designer who specializes in immersive media technologies. After graduating from OCAD University's Digital Futures program, Will founded RENDRD Media (remote 3D animation studio), and RENDRD Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to employ youth from under represented communities at the intersection of creative and digital innovation. Will designs on a Surface Studio and his work has been featured on major digital and print publications, front covers, and billboards in Times Square and Yonge-Dundas Square.

Will Selviz

Mark Serrano is a graphic designer and lettering artist from Toronto, Canada. He was born in Manila, Philippines and emigrated to Canada when he was 14 years old. As a newcomer, basketball was one of the ways he formed connections in Toronto. His passion for lettering started at a young age, creating logos for school basketball teams taking inspiration from NBA team logos. Mark continues to be inspired by the NBA logos of the 90’s, still shaping and informing the designs he produces.

Mark Serrano

Corbs (Corbin Portillo) is a Hamilton-born & raised artist who specializes in digital illustration with 10+ years of experience working with an array of professional brands and athletes. Corbin designs on a Surface Studio and is well known for his unique, detailed and colourful surrealism-collage illustrations with a heavy inspiration and influence from his basketball upbringing. Corbin has worked with many notable clients including Adidas, NBA and Complex.

Corbin portillo

Cornelia Li is a Chinese-born illustrator currently based in Toronto. She is intrigued by narrative weaved into daily interaction between people and their surroundings and set out to capture the relationship by externalizing the ideas and emotions into elements in her images. Cornelia designs on a Surface Studio and her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, The AOI, 3x3 Illustration, National Magazine Award, and more.

cornelia li

Meech Boakye is a Canadian illustrator that designs on a Surface Studio with a H.BA in Visual Studies from the University of Toronto. Their illustrations have been published in print and online in several publications with past clients including Google, Facebook, Spotify, Skittles & The Globe & Mail.

meech boakye

swipe for more →

Jane Chiang

dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis

Pui Yan Fong

Rafael Mayani

Kristina Pavao

Will Selviz

Mark Serrano

Corbin portillo

cornelia li

meech boakye

Submissions are closed

FAQs

I’m interested in learning more about Microsoft Surface devices – where do I find out more information?

To learn more about Microsoft devices: click here.

How are NBA Creators Selected?

All submissions will be evaluated by a panel of representatives from the NBA, Microsoft, OCAD University, and The Standard. The successful five (5) submissions will be contacted within 3 weeks of the submission deadline. All submissions will be evaluated and considered. The NBA will work with successful candidates and enter into fair market value agreements with each artist.

NBA Creators Requirements

The NBA Creators presented by Microsoft Surface program was developed to eliminate barriers for emerging Canadian BIPOC artists. NBA Creators must be legally able to enter into agreements with the NBA for the creative we’ll develop together.

What should my submission include?

The purpose of the submission process is to get an understanding of each artist’s full scope of work and style, along with their personal interests and passions. Successful NBA Creators will work with the NBA and Microsoft to develop creative that will be primarily distributed through digital and social channels. Additional weight will be provided to creative that translates well across those distribution channels.

When is the Submission Deadline?

The submission window begins on December 1st, 2022 at 12pm and closes Sunday, January 1st, 2023 at 9AM EST. All submissions during the open submission window will be evaluated.

NBA Creators presented by Microsoft Surface Projects

The selected NBA Creators will be commissioned to develop and design work using Microsoft Surface devices promoting the NBA’s biggest moments including NBA All-Star, NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals, and more... The work will be distributed primarily through NBA and Microsoft digital and social channels.