Carly Kuhn is an illustrator, artist, author, and designer whose work is a distinctive exploration of observation, line, pattern, and quiet humor. Born and raised in New York City, she approaches the world with an attentive, curious eye - a sensibility that informs everything from her illustrations and writing to her wallpaper and paper goods.

She has collaborated with cultural institutions and heritage brands including Bergdorf Goodman, Sotheby’s, Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Rosewood Hotels, and American Ballet Theatre. Her debut illustrated book, Character Study: Observations from a Very Curious Artist,, publishes September 8, 2026 with Union Square & Co., reflecting her fascination with human behavior and the poetry of everyday life.

Carly also writes and illustrates The Cartelier, a Substack featuring essays, interviews, and observations from her world. Across illustration, wallpaper, paper goods, and design, her work is rooted in a love of character, pattern, old books, vintage ephemera, and the small details that make a space - or a gathering - feel personal.

Now based in Michigan with her husband, two young boys, and dog Lucca, Carly continues to draw inspiration from the everyday and the absurd, one page—and pattern—at a time.