Don Oehl Brings The ACE Anniversary To Life
The celebrated illustrator and creative storyteller behind this year’s ACE Magazine cover and video program reflects on artistry, innovation, and a career built at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and imagination.
By Karen Giberson
Andrew Egan and I had a chance meeting with Don Oehl, which sparked the creative collaboration behind this year’s 30th Anniversary ACE Magazine and video program, and the result is as bold and dynamic as the milestone itself.
Oehl has been building his career since 1997 and is now approaching his own 30-year professional milestone. Long before digital illustration became widely embraced, he was already working in the medium, helping to pioneer a space that many in fashion and publishing did not yet fully understand.
“When I started, people would ask, ‘How do you do that?’” he recalled.
At the time, much of the creative world still relied heavily on hand-rendered work, and digital artists were often questioned about process, craft, and even authenticity. Oehl stayed the course, trusting both his instincts and the potential of emerging tools.