Steph Hardy swaps plants for sweet treats in fuzzy illustrations

Illustrator Steph Hardy has shifted focus from botanical subjects to food and characterful snacks, rendered in her signature soft, fuzzy style. Her recent works include stacks of pancakes, toast with expressions, and a fruit truck. Hardy now prioritizes color as a starting point, developing painterly palettes inspired by food textures. Her personal projects have led to editorial commissions from The New York Times Wordle Review and Bloomberg Business Weekly, as well as a branding collaboration with Brooklyn studio Coldcuts for Queer Atmosphere, a collective of ceramic artists. Hardy is currently exploring animation, adding motion to her compositions such as floating flowers and stirring iced coffee. Her work is featured on It's Nice That.