Sony Online Entertainment has announced that 13 original pieces of artwork from Legends of Norrath and PoxNora will be featured in the EXPOSÉ 7 digital art book, which is touted as "the finest international collection of digital art." These images were selected for the publication from a pool of more than 6,000 entries. The book contains 391 pieces of digital art by 288 artists from 51 countries.

You can order the art book online through the Ballistic Publishing's Web site, as well as view a small preview of the book's pages to get a glimpse of the type of art that was selected. A list of the titles and artists of the chosen SOE pieces can be found in the press release after the jump.

SAN DIEGO, CA – May 28, 2009 – Thirteen pieces of original fantasy artwork from Sony Online Entertainment’s (SOE) Denver and Tucson studios are featured in the prestigious EXPOSÉ 7 digital art book hitting store shelves in mid-June. The annual compilation showcases the finest digital art from a variety of genres, including digital illustrations, games, television, and 3-D. The included SOE art pieces were chosen from more than 6,000 entries by an international committee of artists with professional backgrounds in a wide array of disciplines.

Joe Shoopack, Sony Online Entertainment’s director of artistic development, said the company’s focus on cultivating and maintaining a high level of artistic talent is reflected in the fact that featured contributions from SOE artists have more than doubled from last year’s book. “We’re honored to have selections from the Denver and Tucson studios placed alongside some of the world’s best artists,” Shoopack said.

The selected SOE Legends of Norrath™ and PoxNora® art pieces are:

• “Legends of Norrath: Mistmoore Shield” by Steve Argyle
• “Legends of Norrath: Bayle” by Derek Herring
• “Legends of Norrath: Favor of the Dead” by Derek Herring
• “Legends of Norrath: Dagda Icefury” by Derek Herring
• “Legends of Norrath: Firebolt” by Derek Herring
• “Legends of Norrath: The Forest Guardians” by Graciano Lucas
• “Legends of Norrath: Thythus” by Luis Lashaido
• “Legends of Norrath: Optocolypse” by Kerem Beyit
• “Legends of Norrath: Lyrirae Oakwynd” by Michael C. Hayes
• “Legends of Norrath: One Way to Settle” by Ray Toh
• “PoxNora: Master Axeman” by Bryan Rypkowski
• “PoxNora: Siege Monger” by Bryan Rypkowski
• “PoxNora: Eager Cyclops” by Bryan Rypkowski

“The Ballistic Publishing team was energized by this year’s record number of artists and entries for EXPOSÉ 7,” said Daniel Wade, co-publisher of Ballistic Publishing. “The number of successful entries from Sony Online Entertainment shows that its studios are not just prolific but are also producing work of the highest quality.”

EXPOSÉ 7 can be ordered online at http://www.ballisticpublishing.com/books/expose/expose_7/ or purchased at select retail store locations found at http://www.ballisticpublishing.com/locations/usa.php.