About T

Fine Art - T.G.Novy is a fine artist and illustrator in Chicago. Since 2013 she has been exploring her lineage and the culture nearly lost due to the internment of the Japanese-Americans during WWII. Her maternal grandparents and their families alongside 127,000+ Japanese-Americans have been an inspiration that has led her to reimagine folk tales, myths, and legends rooted in the culture.

Illustrative Art - She comes from a family of storytellers. Not because any of the them are published writers, but because they talk about their daily lives and history as if it was a novel- with highs and lows, arcs and crescendos, and sometimes even a hero’s journey. Fittingly, T married someone who loved to write, and those stories needed pictures.

Decorative Art - It began with designing for theatre productions- scenery both understated and grand. That led to manufacturing and merchandising essential pieces for the home. Then, curating her home, and finally, curating yours. Designing the home is not only an art, but a unique lifestyle-puzzle with the goal of making a space as functional as possible for the one-of-a-kind individual.

From T-

For years I have struggled to define “what I do” and “my end goal,” always associating it with “who” I am. I like to have options, change, challenges, and breadth. I have never tried to embrace it, I have just tried to pick one. It was not until this most challenging year (2020), that I have been able to take a step back and say, “maybe I don’t have to choose.”

The Japanese concept of ‘wabi sabi’ indicates the beauty of embracing aesthetic imperfection, whereas ‘kaizen’ is rooted in continuous improvement and the pursuit of perfection. Perhaps it’s time I embrace the change I crave because that is how I will continuously improve.

Imperfection is inevitable, but it is the undoubted endeavor that fabricates esteemed work.

In other words— Mistakes are okay.
Just keep being good and doing good.

More…

T is also the co-founder and illustrator of Lemon & Lou, a children’s book about an inept street magician who finds a friend. Together, their adventures are magical.