T.L. Luke (she/they) is a professional illustrator based in Madison. Prior to starting her business in 2018, Luke used to work as both an Exhibitions Manager for the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and as a Revenue Agent Credit Tax Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. These are two very different positions, yet they provide a panoramic perspective for how her work is informed today.

Concerned with the political schism happening across the country, but especially in Wisconsin, Luke shifted her illustration practice (which previously focused on dark-yet-whimsical designs depicting empowered girls traveling precarious unknown locations with their animal companions, and tongue-in-cheek products about self-care of which queer Millennial femmes can relate) to focus on well-researched comics and infographics on current events in local politics, drug harm reduction, art equity, and more. It has become her goal to make complicated subjects more digestible and accessible, and to encourage communities to start thinking critically about local policies as we approach the 2024 presidential election.

As such, in 2023, Luke started the comic journalism campaign “Auntie Luke’s Guides,” which demystifies complex topics and local interests. Amid the abundance of information sources saturating our lives, Luke has found that Wisconsin is craving a different approach. Gone are the days of solely relying on articles, the ever-revolving news cycle, and questionable tweets from politicians as our sole guides. Recognizing that 65% of the world’s population are visual learners, “Auntie Luke’s Guides” come to the rescue as the ultimate solution.

Embracing the philosophy that “You can’t know what you don’t know,” “Auntie Luke’s Guides” offer an immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional mediums of information consumption. These guides unlock a world of knowledge in a way that resonates, empowers, and propels the reader forward, and to make more informed decisions for themselves and their communities.

T.L. Luke is also a book illustrator, consultant, teaching artist, activist, and public speaker. She has illustrated two books (How to Be a Difficult Bitch with Lerner Publishing and Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride with Rebel Girls/DK Publishing) and provides art equity consulting for local organizations, business professionals, and emerging artists. She has also run workshops for tech companies and law firms on best practices for hiring local artists, as well as participated in “Commissions 101” and “How to Make the Sale” panels at professional art conferences across the state for organizations like Wisconsin Visual Artists and Dane Arts

2023 Great Madison+ LGBTQ+ Artist Survey

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