Deena So’Oteh
Assistant Professor of Illustration
DEENA SO’OTEH is an illustrator whose work explores the emotional and psychological dimensions of visual storytelling. Through her considered use of light, composition, and negative space, she creates images that balance bold graphic clarity with layered atmospheres, inviting reflection on identity, memory, and human connection.
More About Me
Deena’s interest are in personal narratives, the human psyche, and how environments shape our inner worlds drives her to experiment with form and visual tone, always seeking solutions that resonate both viscerally and conceptually. While grounded in realistic rendering, she bends form, structure, and exaggerates color to amplify mood and convey surreal, internal landscapes.
Her illustrations have been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, Art Directors Club, American Illustration, and 3x3 Magazine, appearing in editorial features, book covers, and children’s books. She holds an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts, teaches Professional Practices at SVA’s Summer Illustration Residency and is a tenure-track professor at Purchase College.