Ziyi Gao
Rediscovering Magic
When Ziyi Gao was five, living in Beijing, her parents gifted her the first four Harry Potter books. But at the time, the language and story were far too complex. Years later, at age 14, she pulled the books from the shelf—and was immediately hooked. From that moment, she became a lifelong fan, one who would one day help bring the wizarding world to life through her own illustrations.
From Fan Art to the Real Thing
Ziyi’s interest in illustration began, fittingly, with Harry Potter. In high school, she started sketching fan art based on the scenes she imagined while reading the books. “Though my drawing at that time might be clumsy,” she said, “I found the whole process very enjoyable.” That joy grew into a passion, and years later, it led to the dream opportunity of illustrating Christmas at Hogwarts.
When the offer arrived, she was in disbelief. “I went to LinkedIn to double-check whether it was a scam or not!” she admitted. But it was real: Ziyi Gao would officially become one of the illustrators for the Harry Potter series.
A Magical Christmas
Christmas at Hogwarts is a beautifully illustrated companion book that gathers extracts from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, focused on Harry’s first holiday season at Hogwarts. Ziyi’s vision for the project was to blend the cozy wonder of traditional Christmas imagery with the enchantment of the wizarding world.
“I wish to bring an immersive visual experience for every child and adult longing to spend a happy Christmas alongside Harry and his friends,” she explained.
From Hedwig to Sweaters
Ziyi’s favorite illustration? A joyful scene of Fred and George Weasley bursting into a room, trying to convince Ron and Percy to wear their Christmas sweaters. “It was such a happy and chaotic moment,” she said, delighted by the lively interactions.
She also found ways to add her own subtle touches. Hedwig, Harry’s owl, appears in the first three illustrations—even though she isn’t mentioned in the text. “It felt like a cute detail, and I had to include Hedwig,” Ziyi said, noting how the owl’s presence guides readers into the story: flying above Hogwarts, then closer, and finally to a branch outside Harry’s classroom.
Research and Inspiration
To capture the spirit of the holidays, Ziyi dove deep into picture books about Christmas, visited local bookstores, and studied illustrators who had previously worked on Harry Potter, including Jim Kay, Mary GrandPré, and Thomas Taylor. She reread Philosopher’s Stone with fresh eyes, and also explored UK Christmas traditions to enrich the details in her art.
A Magical Full Circle
Ziyi Gao’s journey—starting with a childhood gift she couldn't yet read, through fan art as a teen, to officially illustrating Harry Potter—is the kind of story Harry himself would admire. “Though the owl delivering my acceptance letter to Hogwarts missed me,” she said, “I consider myself immensely fortunate to have become one of the illustrators for this beloved series.”
Through snowflakes, sweaters, and spellwork, her artwork offers readers young and old the chance to step into a Christmas at Hogwarts—and feel right at home.