SHOWCASE

/ ARTIST / 2025

BKKIF Artist  
ARTIST: Kayla's Palette
COUNTRY: Indonesia
EMAIL: kaylaspalette@gmail.com
CONTACT: www.kaylaspalette.cargo.site
instagram.com/kaylaspalette
www.youtube.com/@kaylaspalette
Hi there! I’m Kayla Salim, an illustrator and animator from Surabaya, Indonesia. Having lived in France and the UK, I have developed a unique approach to illustration. I am passionate about storytelling and anything culture and folklore related. I love to work with both digital and analog techniques.

My work ranges across narrative illustrations, storyboarding, hand-drawn animations, editorial illustrations, social media contents, and poster designs.

I can’t wait to share more of my journey through art with the world.

Ama No Inori (Prayer of the Ama)

‘Ama No Inori’ started out as a risograph zine which talks about a Japanese tradition of women divers dating as far as 2000 years ago. The word ‘Ama’ itself means ‘women of the ocean’. These women dive without any oxygen tanks and diving equipment, relying solely on their physical strength making it a very dangerous job. The Ama divers are an embodiment of independence and determination. This project was then expanded into a ceramic sculpture and a risograph animation and has won the World Illustration Awards 2024. Watch the full animation here: bit.ly/amanoinori.

Dracula in Indonesia

‘Darcula in Indonesia’ is the first of many adventures Dracula will have in Southeast Asia. Dracula faces culture shock when he arrives in Indonesia and he has no choice but to be accustomed to the local culture and weather. He gets used to the scorching hot sun and the sharp smell of garlic. He’s riding ‘becak’, a traditional vehicle from Indonesia with his victims in the passenger seat.

Dracula in Thailand Sticker Pack

Next on Dracula’s Southeast Asia trip: Thailand! Let’s witness together Dracula’s journey in discovering Thailand’s sassy and spicy culture through this sticker pack, like trying out Muay Thai, going to Siam with style, making his own version of Thai tea, and many more! It’s so much fun!

Siren Scarf

This illustration is one of the three designs for a scarf collection called ‘Siren Scarf’. It’s a collection on the famous mythology of sea girls or mermaids. This particular design is inspired by the strange and vibrant drawings from the middle ages.

Adopt an Axolotl

This is a collection of handmade mini ceramic figures of the animal Axolotl. The unique shape and characteristics of Axolotls make it impossible not to turn them into precious desk companions. Each ceramic figure was carefully shaped and handpainted. They also come with an adoption certificate and are individually named. This project could expand to making more ceramic figures in the future.

Puzzle Purses

Puzzle purse was a popular way of exchanging heartwarming and romantic messages in the early 1700s in England and Colonial America. Its intricate folds and meaningful illustrations make puzzle purses very unique and charming. Each design was carefully thought and there’s a space inside where you can include your own message.

Lady Godiva of Coventry Character Design

Lady Godiva of Coventry was a historical figure in Great Britain who was famous for her brave act of riding a horse naked as an appeal to her husband, the ruler of Coventry, in order to save her people from oppression and poverty. This character design sheet is part of a hand drawn animation which you can watch here: bit.ly/ladygodivaanimation.

Gadis dari Pulau Dewata (The Girl from the Island of the Gods)

This illustration depicts a young Balinese girl who participates in a local ritual. Bali is often called ‘Pulau Dewata’ which means the island of the Gods. The image represents beauty and harmony between the young girl, her culture, and nature.

Love and All

‘Love and All’ is a two-in-one zine+poster from one sheet of A3 paper. When it is folded it’s an A6 zine, and when it is opened it has a poster on the other side. It contains a personal journey of finding, losing, and re-discovering love.

Selkie

This illustration was taken from a zine entitled ‘Selkie’. It is a Scottish mythical creature who is able to shapeshift between seal and human forms by removing or putting on seal skin.

BKKIF ARTIST SPECIAL

More Artwork/Merchandise:

Fare Thee Well

'Fare Thee Well' is a medieval phrase which means 'have a nice day'. Inspired by art from the Middle Ages, this illustration captivates you with bright and contrasted combinations of colours and unique shapes and patterns.

The Otter

This artwork was done as part of a collective project of the Sheffield Hallam University Illustration students called 'SHU ZOO'. Each student should make an illustration of an animal of their choosing, which will then be reproduced as prints. These prints were sold at art markets in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Find All 7 Penguins!

This artwork was originally an observational sketch at a local cafe in Surabaya. To make it more fun and interactive, seven cute penguins are added to the drawing. Perfectly blended into the drawing like a nice cup of espresso, let's see if you can find and spot all 7 penguins!

The Meerkat Girl

'The Meerkat Girl' represents a harmonious relationship between the girl and the Meerkats. Meerkats tend to stay together in groups, and they have very good social skills. This artwork was also part of the 'SHU ZOO' collective project, organised by the Sheffield Hallam Illustration major.

The Movie Cultist

The word 'cultist' means that one likes something or someone to the extreme. This artwork represents a young boy who is obsessed with movies, especially in the horror genre. This artwork was part of a series of illustrations done in October, following the Inktober trend!

Selkie Zine

This publication is a silent zine/comic. It tells the story of the mythological creature 'Selkie'. Selkies are seal folk whose stories are passed down throughout generations. Inspired by their stories, songs and poems, this publication is a personal take on the precious folklore. It was crafted carefully and with much respect to the original tale. All the illustrations were done with analogue techniques with minor digital edits.