Yan Liu is a co-founder of Lost Words Studio. As the studio’s lead illustrator and visual storyteller, she translates the vision of “linguistics without borders” into captivating, empowering art for children.

Her creative process is deeply immersive, involving extensive research into diverse cultural and linguistic contexts to enable every illustration to be rendered with authenticity and respect. Drawing from her own multicultural experiences and a background in applied linguistics, cultural studies, and language teaching, she crafts visual worlds that are both inclusive and enchanting.

Yan Liu’s artwork is designed to validate every inner world for stories and empower them to showcase their own colours reflected on the page. She believes that the right image can unlock a story’s soul, working to create visual narratives that act as compasses, guiding young readers toward a more just and hopeful future through the transformative power of art and language.