About
Boris Pelcer (b. 1985, Sarajevo, Bosnia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a visual artist, illustrator, designer and art director based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. His passion for understanding the deeply human desire for creative expression has driven him to explore a wide range of disciplines over his nearly 20 year professional career, including graphic design, typography, lettering, illustration, fine art, fashion, and art direction. Currently, he divides his time between working full time as an Advanced Artist in the fashion industry, taking on various freelance commercial projects, and continuing to explore his personal voice through his own artwork: borispelcer.com. He creates his personal work as a way to delve into the intangible complexities of human existence. When he’s not creating, he enjoys a peaceful life with his family.
Clients
HBO, Amazon, Warner Brothers, Mondo, Boom! Studios, The New Yorker, Time, Variety, The New York Times, Bottleneck Gallery, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Bloomberg, Village Voice, The New Republic, Texas Monthly, Guitar World, Backchannel, Little White Lies, Nike, Kohl's, Arsonal Design, Converse, Pitchfork.
Education
MFA: Art. University of Idaho: College of Art & Architecture. Moscow, ID, USA. 2010-2013
BFA: Illustration. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Milwaukee, WI, USA. 2003-2007
BFA: Illustration. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Milwaukee, WI, USA. 2003-2007
Work Experience
Advanced Artist • Kohl's
Aug. 2021 - Present
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, FLX, Sonoma, Tek Gear. Developing and maintaining strong cross-functional relationships with designers and merchants. Providing trend research and art direction for each season. Presenting to internal merchant and leadership teams. Involved in mentoring and internship programs.
Aug. 2021 - Present
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, FLX, Sonoma, Tek Gear. Developing and maintaining strong cross-functional relationships with designers and merchants. Providing trend research and art direction for each season. Presenting to internal merchant and leadership teams. Involved in mentoring and internship programs.
Artist • Kohl's
Oct. 2020 - Aug. 2021
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, Tek Gear, Sonoma.
Oct. 2020 - Aug. 2021
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, Tek Gear, Sonoma.
Assistant Artist • Kohl's
Mar. 2019 - Oct. 2020
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, Marc Anthony, Sonoma, Croft & Barrow, Tek Gear, Urban Pipeline.
Mar. 2019 - Oct. 2020
Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics and plaids for Kohl's menswear private brands: Apt. 9, Marc Anthony, Sonoma, Croft & Barrow, Tek Gear, Urban Pipeline.
Artist, Illustrator, Designer, Director • Boris Pelcer Studio
Nov. 2006 - Present
Creating editorial illustrations for The New Yorker, Time, Variety, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Bloomberg, The New Republic, Texas Monthly, Village Voice, Guitar World, Backchannel, Little White Lies, Pitchfork. Art directing and illustrating movie and TV show advertisements with Arsonal Design. Developing typography, lettering, and logos for movie titles with Digital Kitchen. Illustrating comic book covers for Boom! Studios and advertisements for Amazon Studios and HBO. Creating movie posters for Warner Brothers, A24, Mondo, and Bottleneck Gallery. Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics, and plaids for Kohl’s, Nike, and Converse. Ongoing exploration of personal artwork: www.borispelcer.com
Nov. 2006 - Present
Creating editorial illustrations for The New Yorker, Time, Variety, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Bloomberg, The New Republic, Texas Monthly, Village Voice, Guitar World, Backchannel, Little White Lies, Pitchfork. Art directing and illustrating movie and TV show advertisements with Arsonal Design. Developing typography, lettering, and logos for movie titles with Digital Kitchen. Illustrating comic book covers for Boom! Studios and advertisements for Amazon Studios and HBO. Creating movie posters for Warner Brothers, A24, Mondo, and Bottleneck Gallery. Visual development of prints, patterns, graphics, and plaids for Kohl’s, Nike, and Converse. Ongoing exploration of personal artwork: www.borispelcer.com
Senior Apparel Graphic Designer • Brew City Brand
Jun. 2007 - Aug. 2010
Concepting, illustrating and designing apparel graphics. Noteworthy clients include: Urban Outfitters, Spencer’s, Journeys, Kohl's, Target, Hatch Show Print, Miller Brewing Co, Harley-Davidson.
Jun. 2007 - Aug. 2010
Concepting, illustrating and designing apparel graphics. Noteworthy clients include: Urban Outfitters, Spencer’s, Journeys, Kohl's, Target, Hatch Show Print, Miller Brewing Co, Harley-Davidson.
Adjunct Instructor • University Of Idaho
Aug. 2010 - May. 2013
Course instructor for Design Process, Typography and Graphic Design at UIdaho: College of Art & Architecture.
Aug. 2010 - May. 2013
Course instructor for Design Process, Typography and Graphic Design at UIdaho: College of Art & Architecture.
Adjunct Instructor • Milwaukee Institute Of Art & Design
Aug. 2009 - May. 2010
Course instructor for Illustration Seminar and Figure Drawing For Illustrators.
Aug. 2009 - May. 2010
Course instructor for Illustration Seminar and Figure Drawing For Illustrators.
AWARDS & HONORS
Society of Illustrators 48, 56, 57. American Illustration 34.
PUBLICATIONS
Image FX, Digital Arts, Adobe Create Magazine, Computer Arts, Society of Illustrators, CMYK Magazine, Artflow Magazine, Slice Magazine, HEY! Magazine, Sendpoints Books BranD Magazine, Choi's Magazine Typography Source Book.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2017: Reverie, Nucleus Portland Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020: Wilderness, Antler Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2018: 7th Annual Supersonic Invitational, Spoke Art Gallery, New York City, NY, USA
2017: Lightning Bolts & Little Sparks, WOW x WOW Gallery, Inverness, Scotland
2016: Suggestivism: Resonance, Spoke Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2018: 7th Annual Supersonic Invitational, Spoke Art Gallery, New York City, NY, USA
2017: Lightning Bolts & Little Sparks, WOW x WOW Gallery, Inverness, Scotland
2016: Suggestivism: Resonance, Spoke Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA