Call to Submit: 2026 Booooooom Illustration Awards
Painting

“I Set the Moon on Fire Because She Wouldn’t Wake Up” by Artist Mai Ta

A lovely series of paintings by New York-based artist and illustrator Mai Ta. While Ta’s work often centres around her experience as a Vietnamese woman and efforts to present Vietnam for what it is (rather than what it’s presumed to be), “I Set the Moon on Fire” started as a response to Ta’s own desire to be seen as well as her inability to do so. Whether averting her eyes or obscuring her face with greenery, Ta presents herself as someone split between two worlds, at once acknowledging the relevance of her emotions and yet how fleeting they can be. See more images below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mai Ta’s Website

Mai Ta on Instagram

2026 Booooooom Illustration Awards: Call to Submit

Calling all illustrators! The Booooooom Illustration Awards are back and submissions are officially open!

Learn More

A Letter From the Editor: Exciting News!

You can now submit your work for website and social features at no cost!

Learn More

Join our Secret Email Club

Our weekly newsletter filled with interesting links, open call announcements, and a whole lot of stuff that we don’t post on Booooooom! You might like it!

Sign Up

Related Articles