Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is pleased to announce that Yuko Shimizu, a renowned Japanese illustrator, will deliver the 2026 Commencement address at the College’s 115th graduation ceremony. MECA&D will also bestow an honorary degree on Shimizu, as well as on John Ryan, co-founder of Wright-Ryan Construction, and the architect, printmaker, and painter Jenny Scheu.
“I am honored to welcome Yuko Shimizu to our commencement ceremony, an artist who exemplifies the values we hope to instill in our students. Her dynamic hybrid illustrations using traditional ink drawing and digital colors fuse Japanese art with contemporary graphic storytelling in a truly unique way,” shared Dr. Laura Freid, President of MECA&D. “Her dedication to educating young artists and illustrating books for young readers is inspirational.”
With over twenty years of illustration experience, Shimizu is widely recognized for her dynamic and expressive illustrations, which transcend a single stylistic approach. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, The New Yorker, and WIRE, among other publications. She has collaborated with leading cultural institutions, including the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Library of Congress, and in 2020 partnered with Artechouse to transform her drawings into large-scale interactive experiences.
A two-time recipient of the Caldecott Honor, one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature, Shimizu has been recognized for her publications The Cat Man of Aleppo (2020) and Up, Up, Ever Up! (2024). She has also received multiple Clio Awards, earned more than fifteen medals from the Society of Illustrators, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2024. Additional honors include nominations for the Hugo Award and selection as one of “100 Japanese People the World Respects” by Newsweek Japan. She is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).
Born in Japan, Shimizu studied advertising and marketing at Waseda University and spent eleven years working in corporate public relations before moving to New York to pursue art. She received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts’ Illustration as Visual Essay program in 2003, and has since built an internationally acclaimed career as both an illustrator and educator. Shimizu is based in New York City, where she is an instructor at The School of Visual Arts.
Jenny Scheu (L) and John Ryan (R). Image by Natalie Conn, Salt ’07.
In addition to bestowing an honorary degree to Shimizu during the Commencement ceremony, MECA&D will also confer Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees to John Ryan and Jenny Scheu, two Maine professionals who have shaped the College’s physical campus and its academic community through decades of creative and physical engagement.
On Scheu and Ryan’s enduring contributions to the College, Dr. Laura Freid shared, “Jenny and John exemplify a powerful commitment to art, design, and the built environment. Their shared dedication to supporting students and creative communities has left a lasting imprint on Maine College of Art & Design.”
John Ryan is a registered professional engineer and co-founder of Wright-Ryan Construction, a Portland-based firm widely respected for its craftsmanship and leadership in commercial, residential, and institutional construction. Since co-founding the company in 1984, Ryan guided its growth into one of northern New England’s most trusted builders, later transitioning it to a 100% employee-owned company. Wright-Ryan has been a close partner to MECA&D, serving as construction manager on numerous campus projects and playing a key role in transforming the Porteous building, including renovations to the Bob Crewe Music Program, Café, and multiple academic departments. Ryan has also contributed his time and expertise directly to the College through his service on the Facilities Think Tank, and has long supported nonprofit organizations across Maine.
Jenny Scheu is a licensed Maine architect, artist, and founder of Redhouse Architects, a Portland-based firm known for its collaborative approach to design. Alongside her architectural practice, Scheu is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting and printmaking, exhibiting widely across Maine and beyond. Since 2018, she has served as a Trustee of MECA&D and as Chair of the Academic & Student Life Committee, where her leadership has helped shape the College’s academic programs and support for the student body.
The graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St, Portland, ME 04101. Learn more about Commencement here.