James Cameron praises Dylan Cole’s groundbreaking Avatar art

James Cameron praises Dylan Cole’s visual worldbuilding as the artist releases a new book showcasing his new film art

Award-winning concept artist Dylan Cole, known for shaping some of cinema’s most iconic fantasy and sci-fi landscapes, is releasing a new art book that spans his decades-long career.

Titled Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole, the book arrives November 18 and features art from major franchises including Avatar, Star Wars, Alita: Battle Angel, Tron: Legacy, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Many pieces included in the collection have never been publicly shared before, making the release a major moment for fans of cinematic worldbuilding.

The book offers “in-depth insights” directly from Cole, revealing his creative process, visual philosophy, and how he approaches designing environments that support narrative storytelling. Spreads from Avatar, The Way of Water, Maleficent, and other films highlight his signature ability to combine realism with fantastical detail.

Included in the release is a foreword by James Cameron, who has collaborated with Cole for nearly two decades on the Avatar franchise. Cameron praises Cole’s “soaring vision” and the profound influence his imagination has had on modern cinema. He notes that Cole not only designs breathtaking environments and creatures but also contributes meaningfully to narrative development through visual metaphor and thematic clarity.

Cameron emphasizes that Cole’s mastery of color, scale, and composition elevates storytelling, guiding audiences emotionally and subconsciously through each scene. The director credits Cole as a “master visual storyteller” whose work on Pandora has defined the aesthetic identity of the Avatar universe.

Creating Worlds will be available for $75, offering fans a comprehensive look at one of Hollywood’s most influential visual artists and the cinematic universes he helped build.