Welcome in!

Hello there! I'm Vanessa, also known as Nesstolgia, and I'm a Black Freelance Illustrator from NYC. For the last six years, I have been creating fantasy illustrations, with a big emphasis on showcasing Black & Brown characters within the genre. Within my own work, I sell bookish items such as bookmarks and journals, as well as my usual staples of art prints, stickers, and tote bags.I find my work does very well among fantasy readers, gamers that play RPGs, watchers of fantasy media, and enjoyers of TTRPGS (especially as an enjoyer of these myself.) I’ve also had the absolute pleasure to be included in a few anthologies and to create artworks for indie authors, such as character art and merch, to help promote their debuts.

During 2025, I debut my newest rebrand of my table. Over time I have perfected my brand identity both in person at markets and behind the scenes for my online shop.I want for each person who walks up to my booth to feel transported to another realm and experience a sense of peace while they browse through my art.

Vanessa Summers, known as Nesstolgia, is a NYC based freelance artist. Her focus is on developing characters and stories within a fantastical lens; but more specifically, to creating artwork within the genre which represents herself and other BIPoc (Black & Indigenous People of color).Vanessa’s work focuses on the whimsy of the genre. Depicting various fantasy races with more inclusive skin tones and facial features. She creates worlds where it is ok for BIPoc to be elves, be good, be evil, be weird, possess magic, wield swords, and everything in between. In her world, fantasy is as vast as her own imagination. And there, everyone can exist.