Illustrator Libby VanderPloeg always loved drawing. Growing up in Grand Haven and Grand Rapids, Michigan, she was surrounded by books and stories, as her mom was a storyteller and children’s librarian.

After studying fine art at University of Illinois at Chicago and working as a graphic designer, art director, and even a cheese monger in Brooklyn, she decided to fully embrace her lifelong love of drawing through illustration.

Her favorite project in her career thus far has been illustrating the book British Museum: A History of the World in 25 Cities. For the book, she illustrated maps of 25 cities at pivotal points in history, as well as vignettes of daily life and historical events.

Her work has also appeared in numerous publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Condé Nast Traveler, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among many others.

VanderPloeg—who describes her own work as whimsical, colorful, bold, and modern—loves creating quirky, sweet, animated gifs that celebrate community and inclusivity. She especially enjoys playing with pattern, and also making colorful, detailed maps.

She currently lives in west Michigan.

Sailboats (2023) is VanderPloeg’s first stamp project for the U.S. Postal Service.