Concept artists play a vital role in shaping the look of environments and characters, and the entire mood of films, video games, animation and more. Their visual blueprints guide directors, designers and developers throughout the development process, not only in the early stages (See our feature: what is concept art?)
To recognise that work, the Concept Art Association bestows annual awards, commending the concept artists who have pushed the boundaries of their craft over the past year. There are awards for creatives who worked on live-action films, animated features and tabletop and video games, highlighting some of the best concept art of the year across a range of media.
If you attended LightBox Expo in Pasadena in October, you may have seen the live announcement of the Concept Art Awards 2025 winners in person. But if you couldn’t make it, here’s the full list of the artists who won each category, from best prop to best live action and animation creatures and characters and best storyboards, along with the student and rising star awards.
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Live Action Feature Film – Keyframe
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Galactus introduction, The Fantastic Four: First Steps by Thomas du Crest
Live Action Feature Film – Character
(Image credit: Universal Studios)
Elphaba, Wicked by Darrell Warner.
Live Action Feature Film – Environment
(Image credit: NBC Universal)
Munchkin Land, Wicked by Oliver Beck.
Live Action – Creature
(Image credit: Amazon)
Blind Bats, Rings of Power Season 2 by Aaron McBride.
Live Action – Character
(Image credit: Paramount/Apple TV)
Murderbot, Murderbot by Tommy Arnold.
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Live Action Series – Environment
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)
Coruscant Seedy Commercial Strip, Andor Season 2 by Chester Carr.
Live Action Series – Keyframe
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Kiss, Agatha All Along by Jana Schirmer.
Animated Feature Film – Character
(Image credit: DreamWorks)
The Billionaire, The Bad Guys 2 by Julien Le Rolland.
Animated Feature Film – Color Key
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)
How it’s Done, KPop Demon Hunters by Nacho Molina.
Animated Feature Film – Visual Development
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)
Kpop Climax, KPop Demon Hunters by Scott Watanabe.
Animated Feature Film – Environment
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)
First Concert Stage, KPop Demon Hunters by Celine Kim.
Animated Series – Character
(Image credit: Marvel Animation)
Noni, Eyes of Wakanda by Uzoma Dunkwu.
Animated Series – Environment
(Image credit: Netflix/TAT animation)
Caesar’s Palace, Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight by Aurelien Predal.
Prop
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Baby Carrier, The Fantastic Four: First Steps by Mark Button.
Vehicle
(Image credit: Marvel)
Fantasticar, The Fantastic Four: First Steps by Benjamin Last.
Tabletop – Key Art
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)
Silver Dragon, Dungeons & Dragons by Campbell White.
Tabletop – Concept Illustration
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)
Arch Hag, Dungeons & Dragons by Allie Irwin.
Video Game – Environment
(Image credit: NEOWIZ/ROUND8 Studio)
Lobby of the Rose Estate, Lies of P: Overture by Hyeon Kim.
Video Game – Creature
(Image credit: Tripwire Interactive)
Chimera, Killing Floor 3 by Hamid Shah.
Video Game – Character
(Image credit: Digital Sun Games)
Iris, Cataclismo by David Aguado Aparicio.
Beacon Awards – Character
(Image credit: Robbie Trevino)
Gravitas by Robbie Trevino.
Beacon Awards – Environment
(Image credit: Jonathan del Rosario)
L.O.E by Jonathan del Rosario.
Beacon Awards – Creature
(Image credit: Sina Hayati)
Warden of the Mount Bärangûn by Sina Hayati.
Live-Action Storyboard
(Image credit: Saga Production Ltd)
Temple Sequence, Jurassic World: Rebirth by Mario Alberti.
Animation Storyboard
(Image credit: DreamWorks)
Kitty and Diane Fight, The Bad Guys 2 by Maxime Delalande.
Student – Environment
(Image credit: Mirel Shalari)
The Blessed Highlands by Mirel Shalari, New3dge Concept Art School.
Student – Character
(Image credit: Jiun Qi Tan)
Nocshire, Lady Monochrome by Jiun Qi Tan, The One Academy.
Rising Star Award
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Ant Qui)
(Image credit: Ant Qui)
(Image credit: Ant Qui)
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Image credit: HLL/Imazins/Getty Images
Image credit: Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images
Lifetime Achievement awards went to Tim Burtonand the late special make-up effects artist Stan Winston.
LBX Luminary Award
(Image credit: Sipa US/Alamy)
KPop Demon Hunters directors Maggie Kang (pictured) and Chris Appelhans received LBX Luminary Awards, a special recognition awarded to concept artists who have made a significant, impactful contribution to the art community and industry over the past year.
Maggie has worked as a story artist on major DreamWorks, Illumination and Warner Animation films such as Puss in Boots, Trolls, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie.
Chris has worked on movies such as Puss in Boots, Fantastic Mr Fox and Coraline, and is also known for illustrating the children’s books, A Greyhound, a Groundhog and Sparky!
Creative gear to get started
If you need the gear to start your own concept art journey, see our picks of the best drawing tablets and the best digital art software, or see below for some of the best current deals on drawing tablets that we’ve reviewed.
For more inspiration, see our piece on how to create concept art by Marvel Studio artist Rodney Fuentebella as well as George Brad’s concept art fundamentals and Tom Morton’s advice on how to create concept art for VFX.
You can learn more about the Concept Art Awards on the Concept Art Association website.
This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.