Meet the Artists of Magic

One of the most unique experiences at MagicCon is the abundance of amazing Magic artists in attendance! Whether you want to get cards signed or pick up unique merch spotlighting your favorite art, Art of Magic is the place to be at MagicCon: Las Vegas.

If you’re as excited as we are about the incredible artists who will be in Vegas, there are a few important tips and tricks to know before you go:

First, know which artists you want to visit! Check the artist directory, browse their art, and make a list of who you’d like to see. There will be more than forty artists in attendance, so planning out your top picks is important for making the most of your time. Doing a little research ahead of time will also give you a chance to pack any cards you want to get signed.

Second, have your cards pulled and ready for signatures before getting up to the table! Nothing’s worse than the stress of having to fumble through binders and toploaders while everyone’s giving you the Evil Eye of Urborg!

Finally, have a plan for travel! Make sure you have a plan for traveling home with any of the great pieces these artists have to offer. We’re usually well-prepared to bring home signed cards, playmats, or deck boxes, but artists often have stunning prints available as well. Plan ahead for how you’ll transport all of your favorite artwork safely back home!

And luckily for you, we’ve highlighted some of favorite art from the five featured artists at MagicCon: Las Vegas below to get you started!

What can’t Alayna Danner do? This beloved artist has created over one hundred pieces of Magic art, from gorgeous landscapes like Alpine Moon to shining angels like the one on the Commander Masters reprint of Shelter and her Artist Series Secret Lair.  

Danner has been illustrating Magic cards since 2016, when she illustrated Supreme Will in Hour of Devastation. More recently, her artwork can befound on Bloomburrow cards like Lupinflower Village or Terramorphic Expanse. Danner also loves playing Magic, and fits in a Draft or a game with her Linvala, Keeper of Silence or Jennie Fay Commander decks when she can.

If we’re talking about Alayna Danner, we HAVE to talk about animals. Her Dog token was the prime suspect in Murders at Karlov Manor because it stole so many hearts. And Danner’s favorite card she’s illustrated is none other than Animal Sanctuary, which features some of her own beloved pets.

With fifteen years and over 200 pieces of art, Chris Rahn’s Magic portfolio is as powerful as the heroes he illustrates. From Planeswalkers in the midst of battle to iconic behemoths like Blightsteel Colossus and Craterhoof Behemoth, Rahn gives us powerful stances and moments of might.

Most recently Rahn has illustrated valiant and vicious critters in Bloomburrow, including the fearsome Ygra, Eater of All, and a batch of no-good rapscallions in Outlaws of Thunder Junction.

Rahn has also lent his talent to all five of Magic’s Mirran Swords showcasing the might and duality of each. And, of course, Rahn’s art is what you’ll see when your Commander pod collectively groans and returns all their nonland permanents to their hands.

What more could we say about John Avon that hasn’t already been said by a chorus of longtime fans of his work? Avon has been making Magic art since 1996, and has painted hundreds of pieces for Magic, including the full art lands series in both Unhinged and Unstable. His name is synonymous with Magic art.

Whether it’s the softly glowing vats of Simic Growth Chamber, the misty mountains of Explore, or the festering bile of Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Avon’s evocative paintings have been a part of Magic almost as long as the game has been around.

No matter your favorite strategy, your deck, or your connection to Magic’s past or present, John Avon has almost certainly created a piece of Magic art you’ve appreciated. Don’t miss this chance to meet him!

Kieran Yanner has been illustrating Magic cards for fifteen years and has created over 200 pieces for Magic in that time. In that time, he’s brought almost every type of card to life, from cycles like the decorative Amonkhet cartouches and brutal defeat of the Gatewatch in Hour of Devastation to more recent work like Vraska and Annie Flash in Outlaws of Thunder Junction.

Yanner has also contributed to some beloved Universes Beyond products, including The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth and both the Fallout and Doctor Who Commander decks. In Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, he brought Trelassara, Xanathar, and Icingdeath to life.

Whether you prefer the machinations of Queen Marchesa or the more benevolent rulership of Kenrith, the Returned King, Yanner has a monarch for you!

Leon Tukker specializes in environmental concept art, and it shows in his mastery of large scale, dynamic landscapes, creatures, and artifacts. Tukker began working with Wizards of the Coast during Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and his first Magic art appeared in The Brother’s War, where cards like Skitterbeam Battalion and Cityscape Leveler dwarf the landscapes around them as the battle between Urza and Mishra rages on.

In March of the Machine, Tukker showed the besieged planes of Ravnica, Vryn, and the city of Ghirapur on their respective battles, coloring each with a sense of desperation. More recently, Tukker created both landscapes and more glittering constructs and vehicles in Outlaws of Thunder Junction. 

No matter your taste in Magic art, MagicCon: Las Vegas will have something for you. MagicCons are an incredible chance to celebrate both the art of Magic and the artists that make it. With so many artists in attendance, it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace what makes Magic art so, well, magical! Be on the lookout for your favorites, and we’ll see you there!