At the 2025 Future Art & Design Award UK (Summer Season), artist CLOVER LO introduced audiences to CLOVER Cat with her work "Unbothered Royalty"—a character and artistic creation that reflects the designer’s deep inner world, self-awareness, and imagination. The work was recognized not only for its distinctive visual language but for its emotional sincerity, blending hand-drawn lyrical lines, symbolic forms, and playful contradictions.
Since childhood, CLOVER LO felt drawn to art, often sketching late into the night, immersed in creative worlds that made daily life feel vibrant and meaningful. Even after time spent in other professional fields, that creative voice persisted—leading her back to a life of artistic exploration. CLOVER Cat serves as both a muse and a mirror. “It takes the form of a cat, but it represents focus, presence, and self-awareness,” LO explains. Her process draws inspiration from daily life and dreams, weaving together emotion, symbolism, and personal consciousness. The character’s unique silhouette, lip-shaped eyes, and CL monogram, along with surreal, hand-drawn strokes, give it both charm and introspective depth.
For LO, creating is an act of self-rediscovery. The work submitted to the competition reflects this personal journey. “Everyone’s personality is uniquely captivating, including my own. Portraying CLOVER Cat’s tender contradictions required both intuitive precision and courage.”
Full Interview
Please give us a brief introduction about yourself and your creative background.
Hi, I am CLOVER LO, an artist and the creator of CLOVER Cat, an original character born from my exploration of the inner world, self-awareness, and imagination. My deeply personal visual language blends lip-shaped eyes, the "CL" monogram, and lyrical hand-drawn strokes. Through the act of creation, I constantly rediscover new facets of myself, embrace life’s evolving experiences, and find serenity within.
What inspired you to pursue a career in art?
Art has always been something special to me. Since I was very young, I loved creating so much that I would often draw late into the night, completely absorbed in my imagination. Creativity made everyday life feel interesting and playful. Even after working in the professional world for some time, I realized that the creative voice inside me never faded. It kept calling, eventually leading me back to my true passion.
Can you describe the creative process behind your work and what motivates you to create?
My original character, CLOVER Cat, is a symbolic reflection of myself. While it takes the form of a cat, it embodies self-awareness and inner presence — much like how cats live fully in their own world, focused and present in the moment. My creative process blends elements of daily life and dreams, emphasizing emotional depth and personal consciousness. For me, creating is a way to reconnect with who I am and a constant reminder to follow my inner voice.
What was the most exciting or challenging part of creating the work you submitted to the competition?
Everyone’s personality is uniquely captivating — and I am no exception. Through the use of background colors, lines, and carefully arranged objects in the space, I aimed to portray the contradictory yet tender nature of my character, CLOVER Cat. Capturing this complexity required not only intuitive precision but also a strong dose of courage.
How would you describe your creative style and the key characteristics that define your work?
I believe that art has no boundaries. CLOVER Cat is an extension of myself — we are one and the same, unique and irreplaceable. With its distinctive silhouette and attitude, CLOVER Cat embodies the coexistence of softness and contradiction. The hand-drawn lines and strokes give it a surreal personality. My creative style resists being confined to a single genre; it is a fashion traveler from dreams, freely navigating the boundary between reality and imagination. There is always a hint of fashion, a touch of playful quirkiness, and ample space for introspection. Every appearance of CLOVER Cat becomes an inner statement of soul, desire, and freedom — a fusion of art, symbolism, and self-reflection expressed through a character-driven brand.
What has been your experience participating in the competition? Were you satisfied with the process and results?
I feel truly grateful. Thank you for seeing my work, CLOVER Cat, and in doing so, recognizing both me and my inner world. This experience has been a beautiful affirmation of myself. As for the competition results, I had already envisioned them in my mind — and they turned out exactly as I had imagined.
Where do you see the future of the art and design industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
In my view, as AI aesthetics continue to rise, we may see a parallel coexistence of hand-drawn and AI-generated creations over the next 3 to 5 years, and possibly even for the next 5 to 10 years. The tactile quality and irreplaceable charm of traditional hand-drawn works and physical materials offer something uniquely human that technology cannot fully replicate. While there may come a period where AI dominates much of the creative process, I believe a nostalgic return to hand-drawn art will eventually emerge. As long as human beings remain physical, emotional beings — not machines — we will always long for the warmth and authenticity that only human hands can create.
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