Ai Hayatsu was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan.

Growing up as an only child, Ai often spent time in her imaginary world. She dreamed of creatures that lived in her mind. Drawing and writing about them came natural to her.

Ai came to New York to attend the graduate program at the NYU Tisch School of The Arts, where she learned story telling and working with concepts. Today she illustrates for a variety of media and clients.

She lives with her loving husband David and a daughter who keeps inspiring her.