I was born in Korea and raised in an Italian-American family in New York, where an eclectic mix of cultures and influences shaped my early imagination. My childhood was steeped in Disney movies, anime, and comic books—worlds that sparked a lifelong fascination with drawing. I’d stay up late sketching and inventing projects, resisting sleep, compelled to create.
After high school, I began my art education at the College for Creative Studies, and later earned my degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Art at the University of Washington. I started my career as a freelance designer before joining Smith-Harmon, an email marketing consultancy, where I learned all the practical life skills that I didn't get from school, and got to work on many amazing projects and brands.
After working a few years in Seattle, I got the opportunity to go to New York City and expand the creative team at Responsys, an interactive marketing company. Immersed in the city’s art world, I began to question my creative path and redefine my ideas of success. That introspection led me to Los Angeles, where I embraced reinvention—and learned to cook.
Cooking became a new creative outlet and inspired me to launch Starving Artist Recipes, a blog that blended food and art. After a year of culinary exploration, I connected with my agent, Mackenzie Brady Watson at New Leaf Literary & Media, and partnered with The Countryman Press to bring The Starving Artist Cookbook to life—a project that fused my love of art and food into one deeply personal expression. It marked a turning point in my creative journey, where storytelling extended beyond the canvas and into the kitchen.
In 2016, a serendipitous turn brought me back to Seattle, where I live with my husband and our two children. I currently split my time between illustration, design, and fine art, while also working as a creative director—leading with vision, empathy, and a deep respect for storytelling.
Parenthood has added new layers to my creative practice, infusing it with wonder, discipline, and a renewed sense of purpose. Whether in the studio, office or the dinner table, I continue to explore the spaces where creativity, culture, and curiosity converge.
♥ BOOKS
1. Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown
2. Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
3. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
4. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
5. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
♥ LIFE STUFF
1. Cooking & Eating
2. Traveling Anywhere
3. Learning New Things
4. Reading
5. Binge Watching TV Series
♥ ARTISTS
1. Chuck Close
2. Jenny Saville
3. Ann Gale
4. Egon Schiele
5. Andrew Wyeth