About us
Concept art and concept artists are not a modern addition to the entertainment industry. Think Eyvind Earle (Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan) and Mary Blair (Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella) or Ralph McQuarrie (original Star Wars trilogy) and H. R. Giger (Alien).
However, since the science fiction feature film boom of the 70s and 80s, and with the continued expansion of large movie franchises, extensive video game technologies, the increased use of CGI in live action and animation, and advancements in digital art, it has become a large and integral part of the creative process. The ability to create highly rendered finished pieces of art, at speed, make concept art and artists a very valuable asset. Yet this large group of unsung heroes are rarely recognized at large awards ceremonies, their names are regularly left out of print articles and interviews during press for big projects that they have been a huge part of it and we aim to change that.
Concept Art Association is an organization committed to elevating and raising the profile of concept artists, their art and their involvement in the entertainment industries. We focus on community-building events, mentorship opportunities, and advocacy work for the artists of the concept art world, with an annual Concept Art Awards Show where we showcase and recognize these behind-the-scenes individuals working in entertainment concept art.
Artists and students can get involved and support the cause by joining Concept Art Association through our membership program. This will provide them access to networking events, job postings, and a global mentorship program.
The Team
Rachel Meinerding
Rachel’s background lies in costume for film production. After working on several big budget movies in London such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: The First Avenger, World War Z and the Harry Potter franchise she relocated to California. During her time in the costume department she worked closely with concept artists and has experienced first-hand the involvement these individuals have in the movie making process.
Currently, she is working as the Creative Recruiter and Producer at 9B Collective and as a manager for her husband Ryan Meinerding, who is a veteran concept artist in the film industry and Head of Visual Development at Marvel Studios. Being involved in raising the profile on concept artists and introducing them to a wider audience is a topic very close to her heart.
Nicole Hendrix Herman
Nicole Hendrix is a four-time Emmy winning Producer and has won five PromaxBDA GOLD awards as a Producer and Creative Director. With a multi-disciplinary background, Nicole has used storytelling as the main ingredient in her successful campaigns that span across television, games, live events, and film. She is currently working as the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the BRIC Foundation, an organization that focuses on increasing representation for women and people from underrepresented groups in the entertainment media, and tech industries, Marketing + PR Consultant, and Executive Producer at 9B Collective.
As the wife of Creative Director and Concept Artist, Josh Herman, educating the public about the role that Concept Artists play in the entertainment industry is something she is very passionate about.
