Ilon Wikland

Ilon Wikland is an Estonian-born Swedish artist and illustrator. In 1944 she escaped the Soviet occupation of Estonia and arrived in Sweden as a 14-year-old refugee. She was later educated at Swedish art school Konstfack and in 1953 Wikland applied for a job as an illustrator at publisher Rabén & Sjögren, where she started working with Astrid Lindgren.

Ilon and Astrid worked together for many years and Ilon has illustrated some of Astrid’s most appreciated works like The Children of Noisy Village, Madicken, Karlsson on the roof, Ronja the Robber’s daughter and many more.

Rights & Brands represent the joint works of Astrid Lindgren & Ilon Wikland, and Ilon’s personal artbank. A treasure of illustrations in a variety of techniques, with over 1 000 images in the styleguide, is available from Rights & Brands. Please contact us for any publishing, licensing or image enquiries. 

“Light, air, warmth, feeling and colour. That’s when the image comes alive.”

– Ilon Wikland  

Photo of Ilon Wikland by Leif Hansen

Interested in working with illustrations by Ilon Wikland? Hit us with your idea by sending an e-mail to licensing@rightsandbrands.com 

Interested in a licensing collaboration with any of our brands?

Get in touch with your ideas and we will get back to you in a heartbeat.

Awards & Nominations

Awards

  • The Elsa Beskow Plaque

    1969

  • The Swedish Publishers Association Honorary Award

    2003

  • The Swedish Publishers Association Honorary Award

    2018

Nominations

  • Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award prize nominee

    2019

Related content

  • Astrid Lindgren & Ilon Wikland

  • Lotta on Troublemaker Street

    By Astrid Lindgren & Ilon Wikland

  • Madicken

    By Astrid Lindgren & Ilon Wikland

Press Images