Irene Luxbacher

Irene Luxbacher is a Canadian artist, an author and children's book illustrator.

After graduating with a degree in Art History from Queen's University, she went on to study Fine Art (specifically drawing and painting) at Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, Canada. Returning to Toronto in 1994, Irene exhibited her work while teaching art at the Avenue Road Arts School and consulting at the Royal Conservatory of Music's Learning Through the Arts Program. The Jumbo Book of Art, The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art, and the Starting Art Series (123 I Can Paint! / 123 I can Draw! et al) received much critical acclaim and reviews from librarians, teachers and parents, particularly homeschooling parents.

In 2009, she was a Governor General's Awards finalist for her illustrations in The Imaginary Garden, published by Kids Can Press. For other awards, see the accompanying list on her website.

She is the author-illustrator of Once I Was a Bear and Deep Underwater, and the illustrator of Andrew Larsen’s The Imaginary Garden and its sequel The Not-So-Faraway Adventure, Malaika’s Costume by Nadia Hohn and its sequels Malaika’s Smile and Malaika’s Surprise, Mireille Messier’s Treasure, Monica Kulling’s Aunt Pearl, Emil Sher’s Mittens To Share, Gilles Tibo's The Heart's Song, her own Mattoo, Let’s Play! and Mr. Frank as well as eight acclaimed children’s art activity books. She lives in Toronto.

Irene lives in Toronto, Canada where she is currently working on new paintings, illustrations and picture books.