Alexandra Zsigmond

Where do you work? What is your title?

The New York Times, Art Director, Sunday Review/Opinion

How many illustrators a month/year do you assign?

I assign around 8 illustrations each week for the Sunday Review section, or around 400 per year.

What do you usually look for in the work of illustrators you hire?

Editorial illustration involves translating verbal language into a visual one, and often requires making sense of extremely abstract, complicated subject matter. As a result, I look for illustrators whose work is conceptually and narratively strong. Stylistic originality is also crucial.

What is the theme of your curated feature?

Conceptual Masters

Why did you choose the illustrators you chose?

These women have been frequent collaborators of mine over the past six years. I call them again and again for their conceptual brilliance, their excellent drawing abilities, and their speed.