Aniya Thorne of Queens on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Aniya Thorne shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Aniya , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The beginning of my day usually starts with me tending to my three bunnies and making sure they get as much of my attention as possible. With me working 8-10 hours a day, I usually feel pretty guilty that I can’t spend as much time with them as I wish to. So when I wake up in the mornings we either just cuddle, watch cartoons, or I read to them. My bunnies are a large contribution to my mental wellbeing and happiness so spending time with them makes my day better. And I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual because they get pretty grumpy when I’m away at work haha.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a New York–based illustrator specializing in surreal paintings and portraits. Alongside my illustrations, I create handmade clay sculptures inspired by animals and flowers, as well as handcrafted jewelry. But I’m deeply drawn to all forms of art and love pushing myself to explore new mediums and ideas every day, so the products I create are always expanding. At the heart of my brand are feelings of comfort, calm, and happiness. I often incorporate animals, flora, and plant life into my work because they are deeply connected to those emotions for me. Nature is where I feel most grounded and at peace, and I’ve found that many others share that same sense of connection. When I create, I always think about the people who will experience my work. My hope is that each piece brings a sense of peace and joy to the viewer. I want everyone to have something comforting they can carry with them when they choose to bring my art into their lives.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was in grade school and first learning about the world of illustration, I began experimenting with many different forms of art. At the time, I thought creativity was limited to traditional tools—paint on canvas, pastel on paper, pencil on paper. Without realizing it, I had confined myself to two-dimensional work and hadn’t yet discovered how much more was possible. As I grew, I started exploring sculpture using plastalina and polymer clay, creating small-scale figures and keychains. That shift opened my eyes to the endless ways my skills could evolve beyond the page. I discovered a sense of power in creating with my hands in a different way, and an even greater sense of potential through practice and experimentation. Even today, I’m constantly reminded of how vast the world of art truly is, and how illustration can extend into so many different mediums. Each new form I explore strengthens my creativity and pushes me to grow as an artist.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
After completing four years of art school and earning my bachelor’s degree, I had the urge to give up. You’d think that moment would be filled with ambition and triumph and it was. But that feeling faded quickly when I realized that success wouldn’t come instantly, or even within the next year or so. In art school, life after graduation is often painted like a fairytale. If you work hard and improve your craft, everything will fall into place. What’s rarely talked about is the time in between the start of your artistic journey and the future. When you feel like you’re creating and no one is watching and nothing is happening. That was the reality I stepped into. I had to learn how to keep going without immediate validation, how to hold onto hope even when it felt like I was working toward nothing, while also maintaining the authentic vision for my brand. Through that experience, I realized that dreams don’t always arrive all at once. Things in life slowly unfold and doors will open for you when you least expect it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to think in extremes, everything was either completely right or completely wrong, with no room for nuance in between. I rarely allowed space for other perspectives or possibilities, and that mindset followed me into every aspect of my life, even in my art. Over time, I realized how closed off it had made me. I began to understand that the world wasn’t clean-cut, and life isn’t linear or defined by a single thing. People are allowed to make mistakes, and those mistakes don’t define their entire character. In general, as I grew up I realized a bunch of different areas in my life were effected by this way of thinking and it was just wrong.
Learning to see things as they are rather than how I wanted them to be allowed me to open my mind, soften my judgments, and grow in ways I hadn’t expected.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
Over time, I’ve learned that the way I care for myself directly shapes the way I create so it’s something I don’t regret spending time on. I used to believe that productivity and creativity came from pushing through exhaustion, doubt, and discomfort, but that mindset often left my work feeling forced and disconnected. When I wasn’t taking care of myself mentally or emotionally, it showed in my work. My ideas felt stagnant, the process felt heavy, and creating became more draining than fulfilling. I was facing extreme art blocks more and more. But as I began prioritizing self-care, I noticed a shift not only in how I felt, but in how I approached my art. Giving myself space to rest, reflect, and reconnect with the things that bring me peace allowed my creativity to flow more naturally. I became more patient with my process and more open to exploration, rather than rushing toward a finished result just to feel like I was being productive. Self-care has taught me how to listen to myself, and that awareness translates directly into my illustrations. When I’m grounded, my work feels more intentional, more expressive, and more honest. I’m able to create from a place of calm instead of pressure, which allows my ideas to develop with greater depth and emotional clarity. Ultimately, taking care of myself has become an essential part of my creative practice. It reminds me that illustration isn’t just about the final product, it’s also about my emotional well-being when the product is being created. When I nurture myself, I’m able to produce work that feels authentic and meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niyy.niyyy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniya-thorne-a063b1281