Culling Ritual // Culling Ritual

Culling Ritual was released as part of the Strixhaven: School of Mages expansion in 2021, specifically featured in the Secrets of Strixhaven Art Series. This series was designed to showcase the intricate, full-bleed illustrations created for the set, stripping away the traditional card borders and text boxes to allow the artwork to stand as a standalone collectible. The card itself, a powerful sorcery spell within the game, is associated with the Witherbloom college, which focuses on the intersection of life and death, reflecting the darker, academic aesthetic of the Strixhaven institution.

The artwork for this piece was illustrated by Campbell White, who crafted a haunting depiction of the ritualistic power dynamics inherent to the Witherbloom ethos. The design intent was to emphasize the themes of decay and regrowth, utilizing a stark, organic color palette to distinguish the piece within the wider set. Upon its release, the Art Series cards were received warmly by collectors who appreciated the shift toward art-centric framing, providing a distinct way to admire the technical skill of the artists behind the Magic: The Gathering multiverse.