About Kiv Bui

Kiv Bui is a Vietnamese illustrator and designer based in Los Angeles. With a degree in Psychology, she creates narrative illustrations that explore themes of human behavior and emotional depth, fostering a sense of reflection and healing for both herself and her audience. Her background in Communication Arts, Illustration, and Design allows her to work across editorial, branding, product visual development, and product design. In addition to her artistic practice, she runs a small business, Skeletal Academia, where she offers creative services and develops products featuring her original illustrations and designs.

From an early age, Kiv Bui was drawn to a distinct set of interests: skeletal anatomy, a grayscale color palette, and psychology, which she gradually brought together through her artwork. Alongside this, she developed a deep curiosity about her inner world, becoming highly attuned to the emotions and behaviors of both herself and others. This awareness shaped a reflective approach to her thoughts and experiences, where what once felt like hyper awareness gradually became a valuable source of insight and creative inspiration.

Many of these experiences were difficult to express openly. In the absence of spaces where she felt fully understood, she often learned to process her emotions and struggles independently. Art became a way to give form to those internal experiences, offering a language for what could not always be spoken.

By sharing both her artwork and the stories behind it, she invites others to step into her world, encouraging exploration, reflection, and a deeper sense of connection within her universe.