Meet the artist behind Studio Sima.
Katelyn Sima has 10+ years of fine art, illustration, and design experience.
As an award-winning scientific illustrator and upcoming graduate of the prestigious Medical and Biological Illustration program at Johns Hopkins University, Katelyn Sima is trained to take on your scientific story. All you have to do is decide how you want it told.
Katelyn graduated magna cum laude from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Art degree in Biological Pre-medical Illustration. Her interest in cataloging the natural world started early, back when drawing dinosaur bones in kindergarten felt like cutting-edge science.
Since then, Katelyn has expanded her topics of interest. From depicting cellular processes to reconstructing neuroanatomy, Katelyn’s favorite projects have been guided by a careful balance of research, visual metaphors, and dynamic storytelling. Her thesis project, ‘Bullet Points: Visual Guide for Radiology and Penetration Trauma,’ presents an upcoming opportunity to explore the impact of interactivity and 3D models on teaching the basics of penetration trauma to radiology residents.
Through her work, Katelyn strives to make science more visible, exciting, and imaginative, one illustration at a time.
Education
2026 MA Medical and Biological Illustration
2023 BA Biological Pre-Medical Illustration
Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Software
Digital Illustration Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint
Interactive: Unity/C#, WordPress, Figma, Adobe XD, Adobe Captivate
3D Software: ZBrush, Cinema 4D, Redshift
Animation and Video: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Audition, Procreate Dreams
Data and Imaging: Horos, 3D Data Slicer, Pymol, Tableau
Awards and Recognitions
The Association of Medical Illustrators
2025 Award of Excellence in Student Molecular/Biological Still Media
2025 Award of Merit in Student Anatomical Still Media
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2025 The Joseph M. Dieter, Jr., Scholarship for Creative Design Excellence
2025-26 The Ranice W. Crosby Scholarship
2024-26 Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Tuition Grant
2024-26 The William P. Didusch Scholarship
2024-26 The W.B. Saunders Scholarship
65th Art Directors of Iowa Design Exhibition
2023 Excellence Award, Illustration
Iowa State University
2023 Warren D. Dolphin Excellence Award
2021 BPMI Professional Day Best Internship Presentation
2020 HT Jack Horner Award
2019 College of LAS Excellence Scholarship
2019-21 Honors College
2019 Woodstock Opera House Art Scholarship
Exhibitions
2026 In Vivo, Sonoma University, CA
2025 Johns Hopkins Surgical Illustration Presentation, Baltimore, MD
2025 AMI Annual Salon Exhibition, Grand Rapids, MI
2024 ISU BPMI Program 40th Anniversary, Ames, IA
2023 65th Art Directors of Iowa Design Exhibition, Des Moines, IA
2023 BPMI Re-accredidation Review Exhibit, Ames, IA
2023 Kirkwood College/ISU Shared Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2022 AMI Student Salon, Des Moines, IA
2022 All is Clear: Native Iowan Species, Ames, IA
2019 Woodstock Opera House Art Scholarship Showcase, Woodstock, IL
Personal Work
Katelyn’s fine art background shines not only in her professional illustration work but also in her traditional plein air sketches. In her free time, you can find Katelyn sketching paleo art and finding herself a good view to paint.
