Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

A series of illustrations capturing scenes from the novel Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. Completed as part of the School of Visual Art's Illustration program's annual thesis presentation.

Although I had never read the novel when this assignment was given, seeing its name on our provided list of topics sent a current of electricity through my body. The musical adaptation of Wicked was... as it was for many others, an object of queer fascination in my adolescence.

The musical is an interesting lesson in adaptation. It is less nuanced, less complicated, and actively avoids many of the themes and pieces of Elphaba's life that the novel indulges in. In turn, the musical reaches heights of emotions that the novel's distant narration never manages.

These illustrations were my attempt of reconciling these two opposing directions, and finding a new way to express this story that impacted my life so profoundly.