Born in Seoul, Korea, and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Joyce now calls the San Francisco Bay Area home. Once a former Googler, she eventually went back to art school and pursued her passion for art, becoming a freelance illustrator. She loves durian and all sorts of Southeast Asian good; an avid lover of music, novels, movies, true-crime podcasts, independent bookstores, and antique stores.
Her work is characterized by vibrant depictions of people, food, and Victorian houses, with a strong emphasis on celebrating diversity. When drawing people, she envisions their names, where they live, and what they enjoy doing for fun. She strives to represent diverse ethnicities, cultures, and styles in her illustrations, celebrating the beauty of diversity. She brings a rich tapestry of cultural influences to her art.
Her illustration draws inspiration from memories of her college days in Seoul, Korea, during the early 2000s. Across the street from her campus, there was a bustling area filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, karaokes, and bookstores where she spent most of her time outside of class. She believes that no matter where you are in the world, college years evoke nostalgic memories. She hopes this piece transports people back to their own joyful college memories.
