(Drawn Together | Art by Pete Venters)

A Work of Art

One of the most useful parts of EDHREC are the lists of tribal commanders, decks, and cards, which are so useful for finding interesting creature type synergies and cards you may have forgotten about.

Of course, there are also decks built around mechanics in a similar way, such as "flying tribal" and "deathtouch tribal". Though these decks don't focus on creature types in the same way, they feature cards bearing specific mechanics and try to take advantage of what those mechanics do, as well as other cards that specifically mention those mechanics (e.g., menace, trample, vigilance).

Less common are so-called "Artist Tribal" decks: those that exclusively or heavily feature cards with art by a specific Magic: the Gathering artist. These decks aren't necessarily mechanically synergistic; their primary purpose is typically to celebrate the work of a specific illustrator. Lately, I've been really interested in the art of Magic, and those who create it.

Thus, I decided to look for Artist Tribal decks in the EDHREC database!

My process was straightforward, though fairly computationally expensive: I looked through a large sample of the over 1,000,000 decks represented on EDHREC and identified the artist(s) responsible for the illustrations of each card therein.¹ I decided that any deck running at least 50 unique nonbasic lands with art by a single artist was probably trying to be themed around that artist. Here are some of the most popular illustrators to build a deck around:

In recognition of the talent of these artists and the creativity of the deckbuilders responsible for these decks, below is an "art gallery" of sorts, featuring the individual illustrations that appear most frequently in these theme decks.

I find that scrolling through this gallery gives an excellent sense of the nature and breadth of each artists' ouvre.

Kev Walker	Rob Alexander	Jesper Ejsing	Rebecca Guay	Ron Spencer	Christopher Moeller	Mark Tedin	Karl Kopinski	Johannes Voss	Donato Giancola	Raymond Swanland	Volkan Baga	Svetlin Velinov	Richard Kane Ferguson	Daarken	rk post	Pete Venters	Wayne Reynolds	Nils Hamm	Vincent Proce
Copper Myr	Absolver Thrull	Beast Within	Abundance	Angelic Chorus	Aggressive Urge	Braingeyser	Acidic Slime	Angel of Vitality	Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran	Auger Spree	Abattoir Ghoul	Abrupt Decay	Apprentice Wizard	Abyssal Specter	Arbor Elf	Aether Sting	Ajani's Chosen	Artisan of Kozilek	Abomination of Llanowar
Leaden Myr	Altar Golem	Bitterblossom	Auramancer	Ant Queen	Ajani Goldmane	Cage of Hands	Aether Vial	Atarka Beastbreaker	Altar's Reap	Banefire	Angel of Invention	Anger	Arcane Denial	Archfiend of Depravity	Avatar of Fury	Apprentice Necromancer	Alpine Guide	Bile Blight	Abundant Growth
Promise of Power	Ana Sanctuary	Blackbloom Rogue	Boomerang	Anthroplasm	Arrest	Dismantling Blow	Akoum Warrior	Azor's Elocutors	Amber Prison	Bituminous Blast	Angelic Ascension	Apex Devastator	Basal Thrull	Arguel's Blood Fast	Avatar of Woe	Archivist	Ambitious Assault	Bitterblossom	All Is Dust
Visara the Dreadful	Arena	Bloodthorn Taunter	Carpet of Flowers	Aura Shards	Champion of Lambholt	Draining Whelk	Arachnus Spinner	Bar the Gate	Archivist	Blood Rites	Archangel's Light	Bolt Bend	Batwing Brume	Bala Ged Scorpion	Ayumi, the Last Visitor	Baron Sengir	Ashling the Pilgrim	Blackcleave Goblin	Ancient Stirrings
Llanowar Elves	Beacon of Immortality	Borderland Ranger	Devout Harpist	Avenger en-Dal	Cloudthresher	Eldrazi Monument	Arachnus Web	Blightstep Pathway	Asha's Favor	Bloodbraid Elf	Archfiend of Depravity	Brash Taunter	Blackblade Reforged	Blistergrub	Batterskull	Befoul	Ashling, the Extinguisher	Blightsoil Druid	Barrier of Bones
Dread Return	Breeding Pool	Epic Proportions	Enchanted Evening	Blatant Thievery	Fireshrieker	Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder	Atarka, World Render	Blood Artist	Bant Battlemage	Bloodfire Expert	Bastion of Remembrance	Breeches, Brazen Plunderer	Boomerang	Bloodcrazed Paladin	Blazing Salvo	Blight	Auntie's Hovel	Bone Splinters	Bile Blight
Ohran Viper	Cellar Door	Goblin Tunneler	Enchantress's Presence	Bone Shredder	Fortify	Force Void	Baneful Omen	Bloodmad Vampire	Bant Panorama	Boltwing Marauder	Blood Tribute	Burning Sun's Avatar	Consign to Dream	Bloodhusk Ritualist	Brooding Saurian	Cabal Slaver	Auramancer	Boneyard Lurker	Call of the Death-Dweller
Krosan Tusker	Creeping Mold	Impact Resonance	Gaea's Blessing	Carrion Beetles	Griffin Protector	Grim Tutor	Battle Brawler	Brightclimb Pathway	Branchloft Pathway	Cabal Therapy	Brimstone Mage	Challenger Troll	Dakkon Blackblade	Bog Tatters	Concentrate	Carrionette	Balthor the Defiled	Briarhorn	Chainer's Torment
Mirri the Cursed	Dark Maze	Lignify	Greenseeker	Crystal Ball	Hidden Guerrillas	Guiltfeeder	Blood-Chin Rager	Brightwood Tracker	Brand	Caldera Hellion	Castle Ardenvale	Cinder Elemental	Dakkon, Shadow Slayer	Bog Wraith	Damping Engine	Castle Sengir	Blightsteel Colossus	Cairn Wanderer	Chronomaton
Annihilate	Descendant of Masumaro	Munitions Expert	Haru-Onna	Damnation	Hunt Down	Guul Draz Specter	Blood Tyrant	Carpet of Flowers	Brightclimb Pathway	Caustic Crawler	Cavern Lampad	Clackbridge Troll	Desertion	Caligo Skin-Witch	Dawnstrider	Chime of Night	Blood Reckoning	Corpseweft	Corpsejack Menace
Assassinate	Divergent Growth	Seeds of Renewal	Holistic Wisdom	Degavolver	Indrik Umbra	Heal	Bloodsworn Squire	Catalog	Cartographer's Hawk	Demolish	Chandra's Fury	Conspiracy Theorist	Dingus Staff	Call to the Grave	Death Match	Clutch of the Undercity	Bogardan Hellkite	Cower in Fear	Diregraf Colossus
Djinn of Wishes	Elvish Bard	Soot Imp	Kaysa	Diabolic Edict	Invasive Species	Jayemdae Tome	Bold Impaler	Cave of the Frost Dragon	Chrome Mox	Despise	Chromatic Orrery	Crater Elemental	Dissipate	Command the Dreadhorde	Defiling Tears	Coercion	Boldwyr Heavyweights	Dark Betrayal	Doom Whisperer
Eladamri's Call	Evacuation	Soul's Majesty	Mana Breach	Dragonstalker	Isamaru, Hound of Konda	Memory Lapse	Cancel	Chasm Guide	Coalition Relic	Devil's Play	Chrome Mox	Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast	Drain Life	Contagion Engine	Dogged Hunter	Coffin Purge	Brute Force	Deadbridge Goliath	Eat to Extinction
Evolutionary Escalation	Exile	Acorn Catapult	Mobilize	Fanning the Flames	Kithkin Daggerdare	Mind Control	Chord of Calling	Clearwater Pathway	Disenchant	Diabolic Revelation	Clone Shell	Daring Demolition	Dream Prowler	Corrosive Mentor	Double Cleave	Consuming Vortex	Brute Strength	Deadbridge Shaman	Endbringer
Grim Poppet	Fangren Pathcutter	Arasta of the Endless Web	Moment's Peace	Fault Line	Kithkin Shielddare	Necropotence	Consuming Aberration	Commander's Authority	Ebon Dragon	Dragonmaster Outcast	Commander's Plate	Dead Reckoning	Earthlink	Curse of Fool's Wisdom	Emissary of Despair	Crovax the Cursed	Call to Glory	Death Baron	Explorer's Scope
Phyrexian Revoker	Feral Thallid	Beacon Behemoth	Mulch	Hammer of Bogardan	Liar's Pendulum	Nevinyrral's Disk	Curse of Wizardry	Dark Impostor	Echo Chamber	Firespout	Council Guardian	Decimator of the Provinces	Earthquake	Dark Revenant	Faerie Macabre	Dawn of the Dead	Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh	Death Wind	Geistcatcher's Rig
Rancor	Flooded Strand	Boartusk Liege	Norwood Warrior	Last Stand	Pathbreaker Ibex	No Mercy	Dack's Duplicate	Darkbore Pathway	Funeral Longboat	Flame Slash	Countryside Crusher	Dread Return	Elder Druid	Davriel's Shadowfugue	Fatespinner	Desperate Gambit	Cunning Sparkmage	Doomwake Giant	Gingerbrute
Slaughter Pact	Floral Spuzzem	Butcher's Glee	Path to Exile	Lightning Dragon	Phantom General	Phyrexian Boon	Deathbringer Thoctar	Daybreak Coronet	Fyndhorn Elder	Fomori Nomad	Court Street Denizen	Dreg Mangler	Essence Flare	Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage	Fulminator Mage	Duress	Dark Withering	Druid of Horns	Gonti's Aether Heart
Spiritmonger	Fractured Powerstone	Changeling Titan	Priest of Titania	Merfolk Looter	Ramosian Rally	Phyrexian Debaser	Distant Memories	Den of the Bugbear	Glory	Giant Scorpion	Cranial Archive	Druid Class	Everlasting Torment	Dementia Bat	Haunting Hymn	Exile into Darkness	Desperate Ritual	Fodder Launch	Grim Backwoods
Altered Ego	Fyndhorn Bow	Corpse Hauler	Quirion Trailblazer	New Frontiers	Reclamation Sage	Phyrexian Rager	Dragonlord Atarka	Dragon Hunter	Grinning Totem	Goblin Deathraiders	Defiant Salvager	Entomber Exarch	Farrel's Zealot	Demon of Dark Schemes	High Ground	Extortion	Dreadbore	Fume Spitter	Guardian Automaton
Asphyxiate	Fyndhorn Druid	Cudgel Troll	Renewing Touch	Phyrexian Processor	Revenge of the Hunted	Ponder	Endless Obedience	Dreadhorde Twins	Grove of the Burnwillows	Goblin Razerunners	Demolish	Ezuri's Predation	Field of Souls	Desecrated Earth	Hollow Specter	Feast or Famine	Estwald Shieldbasher	Garruk's Packleader	Hammer of Ruin
Clone	Gravity Well	Demolish	Reverent Mantra	Pili-Pala	Satyr Piper	Psychic Possession	Eyetwitch	Duskmantle Prowler	Helm of Kaldra	Haven of the Spirit Dragon	Doomed Necromancer	Fated Intervention	Flame Elemental	Dread Warlock	Jeska, Warrior Adept	Flametongue Kavu	Feather, the Redeemed	Garruk Wildspeaker	Harsh Scrutiny
Darksteel Reactor	Guard Gomazoa	Dragon Fodder	Root Maze	Plaguebearer	Seal of Cleansing	Repentant Vampire	Faithless Looting	Duty-Bound Dead	Iridescent Drake	Heroes' Bane	Dragonscale General	Flaying Tendrils	Flux	Drudge Skeletons	Kaervek the Merciless	Fleshbag Marauder	Fiend Hunter	Gaze of Granite	Herald of Anguish
Detention Sphere	Hallowed Fountain	Duskhunter Bat	Scryb Ranger	Quicksilver Dragon	Seal of Primordium	Second Chance	Garruk, Caller of Beasts	Estrid, the Masked	Jayemdae Tome	Hex Parasite	Elspeth, Knight-Errant	Foe-Razer Regent	Goblin War Drums	Echo Circlet	Leshrac's Rite	Glowing Anemone	Final-Sting Faerie	Glissa's Scorn	Hydra Broodmaster
Generous Gift	Harmonize	Flesh Carver	Sea Sprite	Repentance	Seller of Songbirds	Sol Ring	Gatekeeper of Malakir	Evra, Halcyon Witness	Jhessian Lookout	Into the Maw of Hell	Forever Young	Gemrazer	Hazezon Tamar	Essence Feed	Lumengrid Augur	Hellfire	Firemane Avenger	Grave Titan	Jaddi Lifestrider
Gold Myr	Harrow	Goblin Diplomats	Serra Angel	Rout	Shelter	Swords to Plowshares	Glen Elendra Archmage	Fiery Temper	Kindle	Kresh the Bloodbraided	Freejam Regent	Goblin Cratermaker	Hymn of Rebirth	Essence Harvest	Magister of Worth	Hesitation	Goblin Sharpshooter	Gravepurge	Kessig Recluse
Graveborn Muse	Heartbeat of Spring	Goblin Matron	Silent Attendant	Shard Phoenix	Snake Umbra	Telepathy	Hellraiser Goblin	Galea, Kindler of Hope	Lurking Crocodile	Kuldotha Flamefiend	Gilded Lotus	Goblin Rabblemaster	Icatian Scout	Finale of Eternity	Mana Cache	Hoarder's Greed	Goblin War Drums	Grindclock	Liliana, Death's Majesty
Jace Beleren	Honden of Life's Web	Goblin Shortcutter	Silkwing Scout	Sungrass Prairie	Spider Umbra	Temple Bell	Hinterland Harbor	Gallia of the Endless Dance	Mana Cylix	Lust for War	Gloom Surgeon	Golden Guardian	Jade Monolith	Font of Return	Mind Funeral	Infernal Contract	Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni	Grixis Panorama	Lotleth Troll
Magus of the Abyss	Hurricane	Grave Sifter	Sky Spirit	Terror	Spiritualize	Vengeful Dreams	Hinterland Logger	Gift of Orzhova	Meltdown	Magma Phoenix	Haunted Cloak	Golgari Germination	Kaervek's Purge	Foul-Tongue Invocation	Mindlock Orb	Irini Sengir	Inspired Charge	Haunting Echoes	Magus of the Will
Pestilence	Icatian Scout	Hunter of Eyeblights	Thornwind Faeries	Tolarian Emissary	Strength of the Tajuru	Abyssal Gatekeeper	Ignition Team	Hall of Storm Giants	Mimic Vat	Mitotic Slime	Increasing Ambition	Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma	Korlash, Heir to Blackblade	Gonti's Machinations	Morphling	Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker	Kytheon, Hero of Akros	Hideous Visage	Maw of the Mire
Provoke	Illusionary Terrain	Mogg War Marshal	Wonder	Unsummon	Sylvan Ranger	Aether Storm	Indulgent Tormentor	Hive of the Eye Tyrant	Mirari's Wake	Mycoloth	Inquisition of Kozilek	Hour of Glory	Krakilin	Gonti, Lord of Luxury	Necroplasm	Kiku's Shadow	Liliana, Heretical Healer	Hunger of the Howlpack	Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
Silver Myr	Inquisitor's Flail	Pillage	Wood Elves	Vhati il-Dal	Trap Digger	Angel of Mercy	Infest	Imperious Oligarch	Mordenkainen	Necrogen Scudder	Invader Parasite	Hydra Omnivore	Livonya Silone	Grasp of Darkness	Onyx Goblet	Massacre	Mad Auntie	Illness in the Ranks	Nessian Game Warden
Undying Evil	Kavu Climber	Piper of the Swarm	Yavimaya Dryad	Walking Sponge	Triskelion	Ashnod's Transmogrant	Krenko, Mob Boss	Karmic Guide	Moss Diamond	Nissa, Voice of Zendikar	Karlov of the Ghost Council	Jarad's Orders	Mindstab Thrull	Grasping Dunes	Orochi Sustainer	Midnight Covenant	Mad Prophet	Inexorable Blob	Noxious Gearhulk
Volrath's Stronghold	Lance	Prey's Vengeance	Angelic Renewal	Whipcorder	Trostani's Judgment	Celestial Ancient	Lay Bare the Heart	Lair of the Hydra	Needlethorn Drake	Nyxathid	Loyal Unicorn	Loathsome Troll	Misinformation	Grave Peril	Overseer of the Damned	Mistvein Borderpost	Marsh Flitter	Insatiable Appetite	Open the Graves
Abolish	Miren, the Moaning Well	Prickly Boggart	Asmira, Holy Avenger	Wrath of God	Ulvenwald Tracker	Chimeric Idol	Ludevic's Test Subject	Lieutenants of the Guard	Orim's Prayer	Obsidian Fireheart	Magmatic Chasm	Maelstrom Colossus	Nebuchadnezzar	Hangarback Walker	Pardic Arsonist	Mogg Infestation	Mindsparker	Minions' Murmurs	Pharika's Spawn
Council's Judgment	Oboro Envoy	Reliquary Tower	Aven Mindcensor	Aether Mutation	Umezawa's Jitte	Circle of Protection: Red	Mardu Heart-Piercer	Lyev Skyknight	Overgrown Farmland	Pact of the Titan	Mana Crypt	Mastermind's Acquisition	Orcish Squatters	Horror of the Broken Lands	Phyrexian Reclamation	Oppression	Mizzium Tank	Moan of the Unhallowed	Polluted Delta
Cruel Tutor	Overgrowth	Thornbite Staff	Calming Verse	Ascending Aven	Vines of Vastwood	City of Brass	Master of Waves	Markov Crusader	Peacekeeper	Predator Dragon	Mindslaver	Mayor of Avabruck	Pillage	Ihsan's Shade	Primal Growth	Orcish Settlers	Pirate's Pillage	Necrobite	Profane Transfusion
Damnation	Plow Under	Tooth and Nail	Commander Eesha	Battle Rampart	White Knight	Cyclopean Giant	Mind's Eye	Mirror March	Rack and Ruin	Predatory Advantage	Mox Diamond	Morkrut Banshee	Price of Progress	Lich's Mastery	Ragamuffyn	Pack's Disdain	Raiders' Spoils	Necrotic Hex	Scythe Specter
Dirge Bat	Polluted Delta	Valakut Exploration	Deathcoil Wurm	Brainstorm	Witchstalker	Dark Sphere	Rabid Bite	On Serra's Wings	Razia, Boros Archangel	Raised by Wolves	Mox Opal	Mortal's Resolve	Profane Tutor	Midnight Banshee	Sakashima the Impostor	Painbringer	Return to Dust	Night Market Lookout	Seed Guardian
Energy Chamber	Reap and Sow	Valentin, Dean of the Vein	Defense of the Heart	Cabal Therapy	Wood Elves	Deathcurse Ogre	Razorfield Thresher	Prismari Command	Rhox Meditant	Rescue from the Underworld	Orzhov Locket	Necropolis Fiend	Pyrrhic Revival	Mindwrack Demon	Sanguine Praetor	Pestilence	Silence	Nighthowler	Sentinel Spider
Gigantoplasm	Savannah	Vow of Malice	Drowner of Secrets	Chain of Acid	Wooded Bastion	Deep Spawn	Reaper of the Wilds	Protector of the Crown	Sacred Knight	Rhox Brute	Palace Guard	Noxious Dragon	Recall	Needlebite Trap	Serra's Liturgy	Phyrexian Arena	Skeletal Vampire	Noxious Hatchling	Soul of Zendikar
Goblinslide	Scatter the Seeds	Weed Strangle	Elvish Piper	Change of Heart	Aven Tactician	Defense Grid	Reckless Spite	Reconnaissance Mission	Sanctum Guardian	Rubblehulk	Panharmonicon	Oak Street Innkeeper	Rootbreaker Wurm	Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath	Silent Assassin	Pyrostatic Pillar	Skyspear Cavalry	Nyxborn Eidolon	Spawning Grounds
Gruul Locket	Sea Spirit	Wickerbough Elder	Fecundity	Chromeshell Crab	Celestial Gatekeeper	Despark	Relentless Skaabs	Restoration Angel	Scrap	Ruinous Minotaur	Ranger of Eos	Phyrexian Arena	Searing Spear Askari	Pawn of Ulamog	Silverglade Pathfinder	Reckless Spite	Soul's Fire	Once and Future	Sundial of the Infinite
Inferno Titan	Selesnya Evangel	Willowdusk, Essence Seer	Hana Kami	Crookclaw Elder	Chorus of Might	Doubling Cube	Sedraxis Alchemist	Rosethorn Acolyte	Serra Angel	Savageborn Hydra	Relic Seeker	Ravager Wurm	Sol'kanar the Swamp King	Postmortem Lunge	Simic Sky Swallower	Sadistic Glee	Spirit Loop	Paradise Druid	Tectonic Edge
Ingot Chewer	Sensei's Divining Top	Wolverine Riders	Heartmender	Crookclaw Transmuter	Crawling Sensation	Dreamcatcher	Servant of Tymaret	Sanctum of All	Shattering Pulse	Spiteful Returned	Resplendent Angel	Red Sun's Zenith	Thalakos Mistfolk	Ravenous Chupacabra	Sky Swallower	Sanity Gnawers	Sram, Senior Edificer	Pathbreaker Wurm	Traverse the Ulvenwald
Iron Myr	Serpent Skin	Yidaro, Wandering Monster	Kithkin Healer	Crucible of Worlds	Crush of Wurms	Elite Vanguard	Set Adrift	Sanctum of Calm Waters	Shield of Kaldra	Staggershock	Riders of Gavony	Resilient Khenra	Theft of Dreams	Raving Dead	Swat	Scrounge	Stingscourger	Pith Driller	Tree of Redemption
Ironshell Beetle	Silk Net	Advocate of the Beast	Mana Maze	Darksteel Gargoyle	Divine Light	Feldon's Cane	Siege Dragon	Sanctum of Fruitful Harvest	Shivan Dragon	Street Spasm	Sanctum Seeker	Selvala's Stampede	Tourach's Chant	Reach of Shadows	Tajuru Preserver	Seismic Mage	Stormfront Riders	Recover	Treeshaker Chimera
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner	Skycloud Expanse	Anara, Wolvid Familiar	Memory Lapse	Diamond Kaleidoscope	Felidar Umbra	Flying Carpet	Simic Fluxmage	Sanctum of Shattered Heights	Sigiled Behemoth	Temur War Shaman	Shield of the Avatar	Skarrgan Hellkite	Toxic Deluge	Scourge Servant	Tamanoa	Shadow Rider	Sudden Impact	Rot Wolf	Tymaret Calls the Dead
Myojin of Life's Web	Spectral Cloak	Ayula, Queen Among Bears	Mother of Runes	Doubling Season	Fodder Cannon	Genesis Chamber	Skeletonize	Sanctum of Stone Fangs	Sisay's Ring	Traitorous Blood	Sigil of the New Dawn	Spawn of Thraxes	Tropical Storm	Shambling Attendants	Teferi's Moat	Sift	Terminate	Sauroform Hybrid	Undercity Plague
Phyrexian Juggernaut	Tangle Kelp	Battle Mammoth	Nature's Chosen	Dragon Blood	Frontline Strategist	Glaciers	Slave of Bolas	Sanctum of Tranquil Light	Skyclave Apparition	Trusty Machete	Sol Ring	Sporemound	Walking Dream	Sorin's Thirst	Thorn Elemental	Slaughter	Throttle	Scab-Clan Charger	Underworld Sentinel