Maya Shleifer

Born in the former USSR and now residing in Berlin after immigrating to Israel, Maya Shleifer is a multidisciplinary illustrator and designer whose work is widely recognized in Israel and celebrated internationally. Maya’s art beautifully captures the subtleties of human connection through lively, unpolished characters that convey deep warmth and emotional resonance. Her style is heartfelt, sensitive, playful, and humorous—blending soft, expressive illustrations with themes of family, nature, and tradition.

Working primarily with gouache, watercolor, pastel, and pencils, Maya loves to experiment with different techniques, often creating many rounds of sketches until the images feel as if they are truly speaking alongside the text. Her dream projects would evoke magical fantasy worlds like those in The Moomins and My Neighbor Totoro—rich with warmth, friendship, humor, and adventure.

A standout moment in Maya’s career was being named a winning illustrator selected for inclusion in the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2025, highlighting her growing stature on the international stage.

When she is not creating children’s books, Maya enjoys being in nature, embarking on long bicycle trips across Europe, and sketching strangers in cafes and on subways.