“Our artists have been a beacon for us this year,” says Stephanie Cabrera, senior manager, curation, Adobe Stock. "With such a shift in our everyday lives, what has remained consistent is the creative drive of our artist community.”
As we wrap up what has been a uniquely eventful 2020, we’re taking a moment to review and reflect on the breadth of compelling visuals we saw this year on Adobe Stock. Our curators have collected their favorites into a Best of 2020 Gallery to inspire you to think, to connect, to make, and to do.
Here, in their own words, they explore major themes that moved them, and share examples of imagery that really stood out.
Illustration by Sarah Alice Rabbit on Adobe Stock.
“The challenges of 2020 have shifted our focus onto human connection and highlighted the importance of celebrating our differences. This is all reflected in the year’s strongest visuals. We selected assets in this collection for their raw, authentic, and intimate qualities. The photos in particular exhibit diversity in race, family structure, identity, age, and ability. Many of the illustrations communicate intimacy and craft through hand-drawn elements or collage.” — Deb Wenof House, Adobe Stock curator
“The imagery we’ve collected this year centers around how we represent ourselves, our communities, our family structures, our ways of working, and the new and necessary steps we are taking to navigate life in an unpredictable time. Many of the assets in the best of 2020 collection offer smart, creative ways to approach political, social, and public health issues, as well as expressions of personal and cultural identity. I like to see imagery that captures personal connection with diverse casting and a range of emotion while emphasizing the beauty of ordinary people, familiar places and things. The best images offer an enlightening and perhaps unexpected perspective — while maintaining or finding a sense of humor in our sometimes-daunting uncertainty.” — Desirée Rosario-Moodie, Adobe Stock curator
“Top illustration and design work has a distinct style, one that catches your eye and does something unique with composition or color. Our favorite pieces work with depth and texture to bring digital concepts to life and stand out.” — Shea Molloy, vectors and illustrations lead, Adobe Stock
Illustrations by Cute Designs on Adobe Stock.
“Our favorite pieces work with depth and texture to bring digital concepts to life and stand out.” — Shea Molloy
“This year is really hard to sum up in a few words — images do a much better job expressing all the emotions, challenges, and changes we’ve encountered. This year we’ve had to shut down, stand up, connect, listen, and learn in new ways that we hope will move us to be better humans. As curators, we’ve had the responsibility to be sure the work we put out there accurately reflects the world we live in. We look to imagery to express our realities, inspire us, remind us, and move us to feel something. This year, more than ever, I think the images we have responded to reflect all these things in a compelling way.” — April Jenkins, Adobe Stock senior curator
"The contributors we work with represent a huge range of creatives. During the pandemic, it’s been so inspiring to watch our large-scale producers get incredibly resourceful with casting and locations, keeping safety top of mind while on set. And on the other end of the gamut, I’ve also had the pleasure of following our individual artists and seeing their portfolios become more personal and unique. Through it all, they are setting new trends and making Stock a place for all voices to be heard.” — Stephanie Cabrera
Explore more of our curators’ picks in the best of 2020 gallery on Adobe Stock, and in the video below.
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