Meet Mayah Robinson | Character Designer & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mayah Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mayah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
When I finally decided to take the leap of faith and fully dive into my art career back in 2019. I knew the business of freelancing as a character designer was not about whether I felt like working. It would require my dedication to the craft despite my feelings. It was about staying committed to it no matter my mood or how others felt about my decisions.
The secret to my success is that no matter what the outcome, whether positive or negative, I always return to the practice of making art. I get back up and jump back in even when bad things happen. I look for lessons in everything. I’m always willing to share knowledge and learn from others in my community. Most importantly, I fully understand that creating art is my voice. It is when my voice is the loudest and the clearest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been making art for as long as I can remember and it’s always been something I’ve gravitated to on my life path. Creating art has been such a constant in my life and it’s something that I’ve always been sure about. Art is the core of who I am. My existence alone is defiance and it is also what sets me apart. Being a neurodivergent black woman in the animation industry comes with many challenges. I’m not going to sit here and sugarcoat it. Leading the life of an artist is risky. My journey has been extremely difficult. I stayed the course and kept practicing because the way that art made me feel was more important to me than the monetary gain it could bring. I also knew that I had a goal in mind, I wanted to make cartoons/images that were representative of me and all of the other black and brown kids that didn’t get to see themselves in the cartoons they watched growing up.
A multitude of things lead me to where I am professionally today. Art classes, online art communities, mutual artists, books, films, etc.
It’s an obsession, really. It doesn’t matter how challenging my job gets or how tough a project might be. I love art and expression to my core. I love hearing other people’s stories, I love looking at other people’s art and I am always interested in learning about new perspectives. Something I’ve observed over the years is art’s ability to move minds. I’ve seen paintings bring people to tears, enrage people, and even start uncomfortable conversations. I’ve seen art’s power and just how important it is. I’ve learned that art is necessary and essential to the positive progression of mankind.
I want people to look at my artwork and I hope that it inspires them to make their own (in whatever medium that might be, writing, music, poetry, etc). Art can bring many positive things, but one of the most important things it has taught me is the practice of becoming.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

As someone who has been born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, I’m always bouncing around the city, looking for fun spots to eat. Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Chinatown Square outdoor mall on Wentworth Ave. The neighborhood has a rich history and is still a popular spot to visit for many people

I enjoy Asian food and I really love the variety of small shops and the fact that everything is within walking distance. It gives the location this cozy “small-town” feel. It’s also a perfect destination for a friend group that can’t decide on a single place to eat.

If you’re craving Korean fried chicken, you can stop by BonChon to grab some hot wings and then walk over to Joy Yee to get a refreshing boba tea, afterward. Almost all of the food is delicious in Chinatown square. You really can’t go wrong, there!

Another cool spot I’ve been frequenting this summer is The Garden of Phoenix, formerly the Japanese Garden, located in Jackson Park. It’s a wonderful place to go if you want to experience nature without the long commute to a national park. During the warmer days, my friends and I usually go there to walk around and take pictures of the wildlife. If you like Miyazaki films, you’ll definitely enjoy The Garden of Phoenix.

My last recommendation would be The Hairpin Arts Center, located on N Milwaukee Ave. The Hairpin Arts Center is a community art center in the historic Morris B. Sachs building within the Chicago Community Area of Avondale at the gateway to Chicago’s Polish Village. Like the previous mentions on this list, HPAC has a longstanding history in Chicago. They are dedicated to community outreach and creating a safe space for established and budding artists of all backgrounds. They’ve always got cool events and art shows happening. I had the opportunity to paint live at one of their shows this year. I met so many inspiring people in that space, that I still connect with to this day.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the underground art scene in Chicago, HPAC is a great place to start!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be as far as I am without the care and support of my friends, family, and fellow creatives. I want to give my SHOUTOUT to the advocacy group, Black N’ Animated. The co-founders Waymond Singleton and Breana Williams created an incredible space for black animators and artists a-like to communicate and share resources. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Kiera Please, she always uses her large social media presence to uplift and support other creatives in the community. With her connection to the arts and strong knowledge of pop culture, she was able to carve a space out for herself in the industry. -and with that prominence, she brought other black creatives with her.

She and Black N’ Animated have played a pivotal role in my art career. The way they consistently push for positive change and representation is truly inspiring. It acts as a constant reminder as to why I do what I do. I am so grateful for my community!

Website: https://www.hayamayah.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayamayah/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mayah-robinson-670170a8

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hayamayah

Image Credits
Natalia Virafuentes