Kuukua Wilson •  Medical Illustrator

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I am a

MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR

Kuukua Wilson

Presented by The Amgen Foundation
MY PATH

How I became an artist, explorer, and medical illustrator.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Family

    I am very family-oriented, and they taught me that there are no limits. My mom has always encouraged me to pursue things, even if they feel out of reach.

  • Facing Disease

    When I was finishing art school, my brother got sick. I used my work as a way to explore his condition, which led me to the field of Medical Illustration.

  • Psychology Classes

    In high school, my psychology teacher encouraged me to pursue advanced coursework, which unlocked my fascination with the human experience.

  • The Atlanta Zoo

    When I worked at the zoo as an illustrator, the Art Director there helped me realize what career paths were possible at the intersection of art, science, and education.

I’ve always felt like I’m living two creative lives.

In one part of my life, I apply my research and artistic skills to communicate medical ideas. In the other, I create art for myself as a practice of expression and personal reflection. While they’re separate pursuits, they often feed each other, and pursuing both keeps me inspired and growing.

Major Milestones

Moving to the USA

I moved to the USA when I was ten years old. This move was a huge change in my life as the cultures and lifestyles were so different.

Discovering Medical Illustration

I did a medical illustration project and got a job working at the Atlanta Zoo. Discovering that I could combine my love of illustration with science was a turning point for me.

Attending Graduate School

I moved to the Netherlands to pursue my Masters degree in medical illustration. I learned the importance of making medical communications more inclusive of different communities and that became a priority for me.

Launching my Career

I began working for medical and biotechnology companies where I now create images that capture different devices, illnesses, and discoveries for medical resources.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Let go of perfectionism.

    When I started my Masters, it was expensive and demanding. I felt like I had to do everything perfectly and get straight A’s in order to make it worth it. I had to learn to let go so I could enjoy the journey. I’m still learning to let myself be driven by joy and pursuit, instead of being led by the fear of not doing or being enough.

  • Just because you haven’t heard of something, doesn't mean it can't exist.

    I had never heard of scientific or medical illustration growing up, so I didn’t even know it was a possibility at first. It wasn’t until I realized the kind of work I liked doing, and then took the initiative to look for fields that did that work, that I discovered a career path that no one ever mentioned in school.

  • Every choice is a step towards becoming the person I want to be.

    We never stop growing and changing, so I see each stage of my life as part of the story. I have an idea in my head of who I want to be, but I’m constantly reflecting on how to live a full life in the moment and take the next best step towards becoming her.

  • The best program is the one that feeds you.

    John Hopkins University has one of the top programs in the Medical & Scientific Illustration fields. For financial reasons, it wasn’t the right fit for me, and I realized that the best program is different for everyone. I just needed to find the right fit for me.

Looking for teacher resources?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Alina Milbradt • Illustrator: NEST Design

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