Luke McGarry

Luke Edward McGarry was born on October 11, 1987, in Manchester, England, and later established his professional base in Los Angeles. His career began formally in 2005 while he was still a student at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where he co-founded the music duo Pop Noir with his twin brother, Joe McGarry. His initial design work for the band, including posters and record sleeves, quickly led to opportunities in creating cartoons and illustrations for music-related publications such as LA Record, LA City Beat, and OC Weekly. In 2007, at the age of 19, Luke and Joe McGarry were recognized with the NCS Silver T-Square by the National Cartoonists Society for their design work, an award previously bestowed upon influential cartoonists and even U.S. Presidents. This early recognition set the foundation for a career marked by numerous achievements in illustration and animation.

Throughout his career, McGarry has been a consistent presence in the animation and illustration industries, being nominated eight times in the NCS Silver Reuben Division Awards and winning three times for Advertising Illustrator of the Year in 2016, 2019, and 2020. His work expanded into significant music business projects, including a seven-year association with FYF Fest starting in 2010, where he designed poster art, programs, maps, and wristbands. He also served as the lead visual artist for Festival Supreme, co-created by Jack Black and Kyle Gass, from 2013 to 2017, producing posters, stage designs, and animated TV commercials sponsored by Geico. His involvement with Goldenvoice, the promoter for Coachella, since 2014, has included creating posters and billboards for their annual series of Coachella-adjacent shows. McGarry has also designed record sleeves for artists such as Kim Fowley and contributed animated music videos for Guster and Hoodie Allen, among others. In 2020, he launched his solo music career with the debut single “Black Leather” b/w “Go Ghost” on the Fantastic Heat label, accompanied by animated music videos.

McGarry’s contributions to cartoons and animation include his work for MAD magazine, beginning in 2017, where he created features like “The 27 Club” and “The Chancers,” alongside numerous single cartoons. He launched his comic “Lukey McGarry’s TLDR” on GoComics in 2017. His animation portfolio further includes “Melania’s Great Escape” for Super Deluxe in 2017 and an animated segment for Vice’s “Party Legends” series in 2019. He has worked with major clients like Google Play, Visa, and Universal Music Group for animation projects. His involvement in comic conventions, such as San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con, alongside his father, Steve McGarry, includes special signing sessions and panel discussions. He has also been a featured guest at international festivals including The Lakes International Comic Art Festival in the U.K., Tokyo Comic Con, and Helsinki Comics Festival, sharing his expertise through masterclasses and live shows. His artwork has been displayed in solo exhibitions at Cartoon Network and Gallery 1988, as well as in group exhibitions such as “Playing For A Draw” and at the Kiblind Gallery in Lyon, France, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and influential artist.