Hi, I’m Karen, an Asian Latin graphic designer and illustrator based in São Paulo, Brazil. I was born in Brazil, but moved to Japan with my parents on my first year and lived there until I was four. I have memories from that time, but I love to see pictures and see what I can’t remember but I can feel. We came back to Brazil and started our life here. I have a degree in Advertising and Marketing, but as soon I got my first job, I knew that I was pursuing something else. I had the opportunity to work as an assistant of two visual artists, where I also started working as graphic designer. It was an amazing experience and after some years I became a freelancer with graphic design. When I had the chance, I would always illustrate for my clients, but I also loved to draw personal things. Illustrating was a way to let feelings come to life.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. There was a lot going on and I had to take a few steps back to take a look at me and take care of my mental health. Drawing and painting became part of my healing process. All my emotions were there, in the shapes, colors, textures, everything. And they still help me. I really like to connect with the person I’ll be working with, I think it adds a special layer to the work. Let’s make the invisible, visible.