Alice Jin "AJ" Zhang (she/they) is an Artist Agent at BookEnds, where they are excited to cultivate a diverse range of illustrators for publishing and beyond. They revel in sparking connections between artists, art directors, and publishers to bring creative collaborations to life. They firmly believe in the power of art to elevate ideas with meaningful, memorable flair!

As an illustrator herself with a background in animation, AJ is particularly passionate about craftsmanship and each artist's creative process. They are delighted by illustrators who find clever ways to capture humorous moments, communicate abstract concepts, and evoke empathy. They seek out illustrators who relish problem-solving and tackling projects with a cooperative mindset. And above all, they champion artists who weave their visual language and narratives from a place of personal and creative authenticity.
As of October 2026, AJ is actively growing their own list of illustrators and author-illustrators.

In addition to their role at BookEnds, AJ serves on the Illustration Committee of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA).

If not at her desk, a wild AJ may be spotted hunched over a sketchbook in a cafe, leisurely strolling through their local Asian grocery store, or, most likely, stuck in LA traffic -- but typically with an audiobook so immersive that she'll wish the drive would never end!

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