I remember when I was young, I would wake up every summer morning to the smell of my grandmother's homemade flan. The custardy dessert was often the thing that drew me from my bed as a little girl. Of course, it was not the only thing I ate for breakfast, but if it could have been, it would have been. That memory has stayed with me as a reminder of how comfort can be grounding.

My name is Labiba Zaman, the creator of BibaFlan. I am a Bengali American artist, and I enjoy blending illustration and design to explore comfort and a sense of belonging. Through narrative-driven visuals, I create spaces that feel like a hug. Especially for those who know what it means to feel isolated or between a rock and a hard place which is so uncommon in the world we live in today.

My art practice is primarily through digital illustration and design-led projects, drawing from my cultural background and lived experiences. This approach is most visible in Bubby, the central character of my IP Bubby, Let’s Go Home, whose journey mirrors my own navigation of loneliness and hope. Through fantasy, vibrant color palettes, symbolism, and intentional shape language, I transform my own personal history into an experience meant to feel gentle and reassuring.

At its core, my work is about making visuals that hold emotional spaces where people can slow down. Currently, I am expanding the Bubby universe through visual development and concept art, with plans to build exhibitions and narrative-based works that invite audiences to reflect and feel at home. I feel like now more than ever, it’s necessary to create these worlds to escape to because I know how holding on to that solace and comfort matters, kind of like the way I still think about that flan from my childhood all the time. It was really good flan.