MELANY
BAO
3D Modeling
Drawings
Melany Bao is a 2025 BFA graduate in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts (SVA), currently based in New York as an illustrator and designer.
Her work delves into the interplay between psychology, biology, and human emotion, aiming to depict how mental health influences physical well-being.
melanybao.art@gmail.com
Fractured Heart
This work represents Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, where deep emotional stress physically manifests in the heart, connected to the element of fire. The octopus, with its many limbs, symbolizes the overwhelming spread of emotion, particularly in moments of profound distress. The heart’s vulnerability is emphasized, surrounded by tension and pressure. The emotional and physical toll of grief and anxiety on the heart is depicted, illustrating how intense emotions disrupt the body’s equilibrium.