“I’ve always wondered why I like drawing people so much. Maybe it’s because I love observing gestures and expressions. And since I watch a lot of sports—like skiing—I get to see unusual movements that aren’t just walking or running. Sometimes I’m like, wow, that pose is so strange… and I get curious. I want to draw it.”
That was the answer from Mean–Thanayathorn Leewairot, or Meanlee, and it surprised us more than expected. We never would’ve guessed that her fascination with drawing “people” could be rooted in sports. But through her eyes and the tip of her pen, Meanlee invites us to explore her inner world through sharp, colorful, expressive characters. Beneath their boldness lies a deeper message—waiting for us to see it and understand it.
The making of “Meanlee”
Before becoming a freelance illustrator, Mean worked as a social art director. Life took a turn when she left that job and, following a friend’s suggestion, brought her artwork to exhibit at BKKIF. She never imagined that her first-ever booth would be the beginning of her journey as a full-time artist.
“It was during the period when COVID was fading, so the event was packed. I felt like people weren’t just walking around to buy stuff—they were genuinely looking at my work, asking real questions. Some even bought my paintings. That made me realize, oh… people are interested in my art. I can sell my work,” Mean recalls.
Bold lines. Loud colors. Odd expressions. Pop art with hidden layers—Meanlee style.
We jokingly asked her, “If you had to sell your art style to someone who has never seen your work, how would you describe it?”
Without missing a beat, Mean replied:
“Pop art—bright colors, lots of lines, focusing on expression and human gestures.”
Her signature is unmistakable: RGB-bright colors—neon green, vivid yellow, electric pink—and characters caught in unusual poses: legs stretched, limbs twisted into heart shapes, cheeky facial expressions. She told us her distinct visual identity first solidified around her sophomore year of university, though it had been gradually shaped by the artists she admired—James Clapham, Kidtofer, Sahred Toy—and even propaganda art, surprising as it sounds.
But beyond the visuals lies the core: the stories she wants to tell.
Her inspirations come from everyday life, sports (she’s a huge sports fan!), movies, music she loves, and the social-political topics she connects with. She admitted that recently, the “people” she draws are actually representations of herself—reflections of her daily life, the things she consumes, and her internal world. That’s why “people” remain her main storytelling device—her doorway for viewers to enter her universe.
What if someone says, “Meanlee’s work all looks the same”?
Since her designs and characters follow a clear, strong, and consistent direction, we couldn’t resist asking a question we thought would be fun for her to answer.
With a laugh, she started with “Well… this is my style.”
She continued, explaining that she can’t help it—it is her signature, and personally, she doesn’t think her works look the same.
“Every piece tells a different story. Sure, the style is similar, but the works aren’t identical. I just use ‘people’ as the main element to tell every story. How do I feel about the comment? I’ll probably think about it for five minutes, then stop worrying.” (laughs) “Because this is what I do, and I believe in it.”
The Thai art toy scene through Meanlee’s eyes
Mean told us she loves art toys, so she’s thrilled to see the community growing—especially now that more Thai artists are creating art toys and strengthening the scene together.
Seeing how passionate she is, we had to ask a question that might make her fans sit up in excitement: “Will we ever see a Meanlee art toy?”
“I really want to! If I get the chance, I’d love to try. Like Love Yourself—I think it could be made into a toy exactly as it is, no proportion changes needed. People would love it.”
If you’ve ever seen Love Yourself—the character doing a backflip with legs bent into a heart shape—you can probably imagine how amazing it would look as an art toy.
The universe inside Meanlee
Understanding the origin of her linework and seeing how she interprets the world through vibrant colors and quirky poses, we’ve come to see that “Meanlee” is more than an artist making bold pop art. She is someone who uses the human figure as her personal language to tell the stories she loves—building a small universe entirely her own.
Before we left, she asked us to follow her on Instagram @meanleeee, and ended with a simple line:
“If you like bold colors, you’re very, very welcome!”
We suggest you take her up on that invitation. We’re pretty sure the loud, colorful world she creates will welcome you warmly.
