Sean Qualls is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work blends history, race, identity, and mythology to explore universal human stories. Raised in New Jersey, he learned to create with whatever materials he could find, including discarded paper and blank book ends.

Sean has illustrated several acclaimed books, including Emmanuel's Dream (Schneider Award), Before John Was a Jazz Giant (Coretta Scott King Honor), and Giant Steps to Change the World. His designs include titles by Octavia Butler, Claude McKay, and more. Beyond illustration, his fine art examines how identity is formed, inherited, and imagined. When he’s not creating, he can sometimes be found DJing in Brooklyn.

Sean has recently had his first authorial debut with his book, Fros, Fades, and Braids, which celebrates the history of well-known Black hairstyles and the famous innovators behind them.