BIO

Roya Hamburger, an artist with a heritage combining Dutch-Jewish and Iranian-Baháʼí immigrant roots, spent her childhood in a small village in the South of the Netherlands. Growing up surrounded by TV-characters, comic books, and toys, she developed a vivid imagination, envisioning a dreamworld filled with perfectly crafted creatures and landscapes. From a young age, Roya aspired to be a creator always drawing, crating and building.

At 17, she left high school education and work as an intern in a design agency, driven by the determination to become graphic designer and illustrator. She later applied for admission to the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, to study Communication Advertising and Illustration. At age 18 I started a flourishing freelance career in illustration prompted her to leave art school once more. My career gained momentum. I secured an agent and was nominated for 'Talent of the Year '93.' From that point on, I embarked on a journey of creating illustrations for renowned brands such as Albert Hein, WNF, FNV Bondgenoten, IKON Broadcasting, Cosmopolitan magazine, Elle magazine, Avant Garde magazine, ABN-AMRO Bank, Bruna, British Airways, Man Power, NS Dutch Railways, Postbank, Deloitte and Touche, Peter Stuyvesant, and Martini.

Her career has been marked by translating and creating concepts and visuals in a characteristic style, giving brands a unique look. Working for start-ups as well as well-established agencies in the marketing and publishing industry worldwide, Roya has delivered quality designs in various formats, from websites and apps to logos, brochures, and character design.

Educationally, Roya is mainly self-taught, with additional training at the Willem de Kooning Academy of Arts in 1989, studying Advertising and Design. Her inspiration draws from artists like M.C. Escher, Ernst Haeckel, Alex Steinweiss, Andy Warhol, OHGUSHI, and others, along with influences from Japanese, Indian, and Persian art, as well as Native art from around the world.

In recent years, Roya's work has transitioned back to traditional methods, by hand on paper with a pencil and brush, leaving digital created art behind. The sketch phase takes precedence and is a time-consuming process.

Summarily, Roya Hamburger's artistic journey is marked by a childhood passion for drawing, early success as an visual artist and a career characterized by continuous self-development and an international clientele. Her recent focus on traditional art methods reflects a dedication to the craft, and her art celebrates creativity, imagination, and a distinctive blend of paradoxical elements. The essence of character design in her work invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world where possibilities are limitless

As Roya continues her artistic journey, and the joy of being a full-time autonomous artist.