Digital Artist Gianna Marín Cotto 

Gianna Marín Cotto is a digital artist born in 2004 in San Juan. Diagnosed with Autism at the age of four, she began drawing at just three years old—first through spontaneous scribbles that quickly evolved into imaginative and highly focused creations.

Her early work reflected a vivid inner world, including dragons inspired by fantasy programming on Animal Planet and her original “shadow bunnies”—striking black rabbit silhouettes rendered in marker. As her interests deepened, she developed an intense fascination with dinosaurs, not only drawing them in detail but also memorizing their names and characteristics.

By age seven, Gianna’s artistic direction expanded under the influence of electronic music icon Deadmau5 and the visual storytelling of LEGO Legends of Chima. In April 2013, she gained early recognition by winning an art contest to design the album cover for Batiscafo Volumen 18, featuring multiple Puerto Rican artists.

Her evolving interests led her to explore themes from Five Nights at Freddy's, followed by a strong engagement with anime and Pokémon beginning in 2016. During this period, she began shaping a distinctive visual language.

Gianna is the granddaughter of Augusto Marín, one of Puerto Rico’s most influential painters, and continues this artistic legacy through her brand, Houndmouse Art. Her work blends the vibrant, contemporary aesthetic of Takashi Murakami with the expressive forms of Ángel Botello, resulting in a unique fusion of anime-inspired and modern Caribbean visual elements.

Following Hurricane Maria, Gianna relocated to Florida, where she continued to refine her signature style. Her Houndmouse character series represents a culmination of her artistic journey—combining repetition, character design, and emotional expression.

Her work has been exhibited at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in 2023-2026 and the Lake County Museum of Art in 2024, marking significant milestones in her growing career.

Through her art, Gianna Marín Cotto offers a compelling perspective shaped by neurodiversity—where focus, imagination, and emotional depth converge into a powerful visual voice.