French, b. 1977 Born in France to an artistic family, author and illustrator Pauline Lévêque was raised along the countryside; the days of her youth were spent scribbling on canvases and entertaining herself with the tubes of oil paint stored in her father’s studio. After the birth of her first child, Lévêque transitioned from a career in journalism into becoming a full-time illustrator with the creation of “Beep Beep,” a humorous bilingual children’s book character in the body of a red car. In contrast to her upbringing, the artist’s affinity for large, sprightly cities like New York, Paris and London is a prominent subject in her work. The structure and composition that comprise her favorite cities inspire the artist to enhance her illustrations with small details that reflect the lively energy of the city and people in focus. Lévêque’s signature black-and-white technique is evocative of the delicate scratchings of Pierre Le-Tan and the simple lines of Jean-Jacques Sempé; playful yet precise. In addition to serving on the board for Chefs for Impact, the artist has illustrated the last six novels of bestselling French author Marc Levy, collaborated on graphic design for French Maison Ladurée and the Mercer Hotel, and is a yearly participant in the LP4Y (Life Project 4 Youth) art fair in benefit of displaced youth living in extreme poverty.