The Chesley Awards were established in 1985 by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists to recognize individual artistic works and achievements during a given year. The Chesleys were initially called the ASFA Awards, but were later renamed to honor famed astronomical artist Chesley Bonestell following his death in 1986. The awards are presented annually, typically at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon).
Chesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – Hardcover
Chesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – Paperback
Chesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – Magazine
Chesley Award for Best Interior Illustration
Chesley Award for Best Three-Dimensional Art
Chesley Award for Best Color Work – Unpublished
Chesley Award for Best Monochrome Work – Unpublished
Chesley Award for Best Product Illustration
Chesley Award for Best Gaming-Related Illustration
Chesley Award for Best Art Director
Chesley Award for Artistic Achievement
Chesley Award for Contribution to ASFA (through 2006)
Chesley Award Winners & Nominees for 2014
The following are the winners and finalists for works done in 2013 for the 2014 Awards.
Best Cover Illustration: Hardback Book
Winner: Todd Lockwood – A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan; Tor, Feb. 2013
Other Nominees:
Jason Chan – Lost Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure by Ari Marmell; Pyr, Dec. 2013
Kekai Kotaki – Quintessence by David Walton; Tor, March 2013
Maurizio Manzieri – Book of Iron by Elizabeth Bear; Subterranean Press, Sept. 2013
Michael Whelan – A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson; Tor, Jan. 2013
Allen Williams – Light Reading, Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling; Tor, March 2013
Best Cover Illustration: Paperback Book
Winner: Kerem Beyit – The Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich; Pyr, Sept. 2013
Other Nominees:
Jason Chan – Harbinger by Phillippa Ballantine; Ace, July 2013
Julie Dillon – Ancient Discovery; Crossed Genres Magazine 2.0 Book One; Crossed Genres Publications, April 2013
Justin Gerard – Power Under Pressure (The Society of Steam) by Andrew P. Mayer; Pyr, Jan. 2013
Dehong He – Shield of Sea and Space by Erin Hoffman; Pyr, May 2013
Best Cover Illustration: Magazine
Winner: Dan Dos Santos – Fables #136 Vertigo, Dec. 2013
Other Nominees:
Julie Dillon – Elliptic, Clarkesworld, December 2013
Maurizio Manzieri – The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2013
Cynthia Sheppard – Bull Spec, Spring 2013
Best Interior Illustration
Winner: Brian Kesinger – Walking Your Octopus, July 2013; Baby Tattoo Books
Other Nominees:
Robert Hunt – “Fire Above, Fire Below” by Garth Nix; Tor.com, May 2013
John Jude Palencar – “A Terror” by Jeffrey Ford; Tor.com, July 2013
John Picacio – “The Button Man and the Murder Tree” by Cherie Priest; Tor.com, May 2013)
John Picacio – The Good Life; Popular Science Magazine, June 2013
Greg Ruth – “Dragonkin” by Lavie Tidhar; Tor.com, July 2013
Greg Ruth – The Running of the Bulls, The Running of the Bulls by Harry Turtledove; Tor.com, March 2013
Best Three-Dimensional Art
Winner: Devon Dorrity – Cecaelia, Queen of the Ocean, clay
Other Nominees:
Thomas Kuebler – Krampus the Yule Lord, mixed
David Meng – Leatherback, resin
Michael Parkes – Goddess of the Hunt, 1/2 life-size bronze
Forest Rogers – Goblin Spider, Kato polyclay
Vincent Villafranca – Star Smith, bronze
Best Unpublished: Color Work
Winner: Donato Giancola – Huor and Hurin Approaching Gondolin, oil on linen
Other Nominees:
Rhea Ewing – Ancestor Series – Neanderthal
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law – Ships Passing in the Night, watercolor
Dave Leri – Death Squealer, oil on masonite
Annie Stegg – Lilaia the Naiad, oil on paper
Best Unpublished: Monochrome Work
Winner: Ruth Sanderson – The Descent or Persephone, scratchboard
Other Nominees:
Justin Gerard – The Fox Princess, pencil
Rebecca Guay – Tender Morsels, graphite
John Picacio – La Luna
Travis Lewis – Bone Collector, graphite
Best Product Illustration
Winner: Julie Bell & Boris Vallejo – Jeannie's Kitten, IlluXCon 6 promotional art
Other Nominees:
Mitchell Bentley – 2014 Space Art Calendar; Atomic Fly Studios and Alban Lake Publishing, December 2013
Julie Dillon – 2014 Llewellyn's Astrology Calendar June 2013
Justin Gerrard – “Morzag! Lord of Destruction” poster
Iain McCaig – Call of the Muse, Spectrum 20 Call for Entries poster
John Picacio – El Arpa (Loteria Card Illustration from Lone Boy)
Best Gaming-Related Illustration
Winner: Lucas Graciano – The Last Stand of Thorin Oakenshield for The Battle of Five Armies Board Game Ares Games
Winner: Ryan Yee – Fruit of the First Tree for Fate Reforged Magic the Gathering WoTC 2016
Other Nominees:
Tyler Jacobson – Ruric: Thar the Unbowed (2014 Core Set Magic card) WotC, July 2013
Todd Lockwood – Observant Alseid (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013
David Palumbo – Serene Remembrance (“Gatecrash” Magic card) WotC, Feb. 2013
Steve Prescott – Prognostic Sphinx (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013
Chris Rahn – Ashen Rider (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013
Best Art Director
Winner: Irene Gallo – Tor & Tor.com
Other Nominees:
Lou Anders – Pyr
Lauren Panepinto – Orbit Books
William Schafer – Subterranean Press
Jon Schindehette – Wizards of the Coast
Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Winner: Jim Burns
Other Nominees:
Kinukyo Craft
Diane Dillon
Drew Struzan
