Danielle Ridolfi is a picture book illustrator and scholar. She holds an MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University. She uses collage and printmaking in her work given the ways these methods can connect readers with tangible objects, memories, and places. Leaning on her background as a clinical psychologist specializing in children and families, Danielle often uses theories of learning and development to guide her practice.
Danielle’s debut picture book as an author-illustrator, When the Dark Clouds Come, comes out in October 2025. She is represented by Aevitas Creative Management. She has worked as a designer + illustrator for several creative agencies and publications, including Honest History Magazine, Enrich Creative, New Honor Society, and Cheree Berry Paper & Design. Her research and scholarly writing exist at the intersection of illustration, early childhood pedagogy, and material culture.
