Rising Stars: Meet Audrey Nathania

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Nathania.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a young age, I’ve had an unwavering passion for the world of creativity. It started when I was seven, and I was obsessed with everything Barbie-related, especially their outfits in the Barbie movies. I was so sure at the time that I would become the next big fashion designer. I would come home from school and start sketching models or characters with their own outfits and even give them their own pets and collection names. As I grew up, I came to realize that my true fascination wasn’t centered around fashion per se but rather in illustrating and bringing these characters to life – each with their own personalities.

My college years at SCAD solidified my path – I embraced being an illustrator. Now, after graduating, my focus is on creating whimsical characters inspired by counterculture, 2000s cartoons, and everyday humor.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was really lucky to have parents who supported my career choice, which isn’t always the case growing up in Indonesia, where I saw friends who were passionate about art but got pushed into fields like law or medicine by their parents.

While I was in college, I definitely struggled to find my own voice as an illustrator. In high school, I was the “art kid” and stood out among my peers as one of the few who could draw well. But stepping into art college opened my eyes to a whole new level of talent. I felt like I didn’t quite measure up and started doubting myself; I 100% had a bad case of imposter syndrome. Instead of embracing my own style, I found myself comparing my work to other artists. It wasn’t until my junior year that things started to come together. I began to not only understand my artistic direction but also my personal identity – which I feel go hand in hand.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to make things that entertain my hyperactive brain. I enjoy creating silly characters inspired by counterculture, anything cartoony from the 2000s, and the humor in everyday life. I love any opportunity to experiment with my artwork!

I feel like my proudest moments are when I get to make art for other artists or musicians! Especially making art for one of my favorite bands, The Backseat Lovers. That has been definitely the highlight of my freelance career so far.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I guess that I’m sort of a hoarder! I like to collect a bunch of little knick-knacks or random photos of things that are around me that I find interesting or cool looking. Lately, it’s been random newspapers I find on the street. I also really like to write a lot of my memories down or take pictures of it since I’m always afraid of forgetting core memories!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.audreynathania.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ifinallymadeone_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreynathania/

Image Credits
Audrey Nathania