Jonell Joshua found her calling for art at a young age -- precisely 2nd grade -- after she found her mother's art portfolio in the bedroom of her childhood home. Hoping to emulate her mother's talents, soon after, Jonell started drawing kid’s portraits in the cafeteria during lunch. In later years she dove deeper into the arts, continuing to create in and out of school, finding ways to express herself and connect with others.

Today Jonell is an award-winning illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. Her professional work has explored a range of topics in editorial illustration and publication, including illustrating for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real Life Tales of Black Girl Magic, The Queens of the Resistance series, and work featured in the film Selah and the Spades. She has worked with clients including The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and NPR.