Photo by Ananya Tanttu
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Let it be a picture book, pattern design, illustration, unique piece or everyday life, drawing is a way of thinking for me. It is my process of making sense of this world.
Curiosity, playfulness, colours and modularity are the cornerstones of my works. Driven by a constant fascination about stories found in my surroundings and in nature, my work aims to give space for conversations. In my practice I search for the unique repetitive patterns each of us carry through life. Through art and design I create tools that can help in traumatic events or simply bring beauty and relief for a moment. I believe that illustrations and objects made with care and playfulness will light up our curiosity.
When it comes to artworks my practice of working is almost meditative. The works evoke the fragility of the present moment. Using ink and oil pastels on paper without planning in advance creates a process where you can’t hide anything. What I find beautiful in this, is that nothing gets erased, all small stains become part of the final piece.
I come from a creative family - interior designer mother, furniture designer father - where curiosity has been treasured and coincidences embraced. I’m an alumnus of both the Hungarian Fine Art Academy as well as the Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland.
I co-founded Etana Editions, an award winning independent picture book publisher in 2014, and I worked there till June 2025 with talented authors and illustrators on stories for readers of all ages, and represented their works worldwide. To this day I remain a shareholder.
Some of the things I especially like are: the sea, fog, peculiar colours, active listening, the scent of freshly cut grass, rosemary, black current, plants, dancing with closed eyes, sharing a meal with family and friends, autumn storms…
