Hong Kong 30 Under 30 2016

Artist and illustrator

Kitty N. Wong is everywhere — in the last few years, her illustrations have gained a huge following. “I wanted to be a fashion designer, so that got me drawing a lot — and it eventually led me to become an illustrator.”

The Hong Kong-born Canadian began creating illustrations professionally in 2012, and hasn’t looked back since. Her work drew the attention of international brands, and she has collaborated with the likes of Lane Crawford, Maybelline, Dior, Cartier and Pacific Place, as well as publications like Dazed Digital and the National Post. In 2016, she was responsible for some 300 Chow Sang Sang illustrated store displays across Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

“Sometimes, when I’m working, I look around and think: Hey, I get to draw for a living today. It’s been my dream for a while, and sometimes I forget I’m living it.”

Wong was also recently accepted into Hong Kong Open Printshop’s creative assistant program — “so the new year will see me working on more etchings.” Fans of her art can also expect more videos of her work in 2017.

“Every artist takes such a different path on their way to becoming one, and it can be so convoluted and unpredictable,” she says, reflecting on her journey. “After I graduated from university, I was really confused about my career path — so it makes me especially grateful.”

Her very first job? Wong was a hostess at Swiss Chalet, a rotisserie joint in a small Canadian town where she grew up.