Artist Uses Natural Ingredients to “Paint” Beautiful Art on Smoothie Bowls

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Banana, butterfly pea flower powder, ginger, almond milk, coconut yoghurt, spirulina, spinach; On top: Coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal, mesquite powder, cacao & carob syrup, spirulina, turmeric

If you’re creative enough, art can be made anywhere. Over the past year, we’ve seen artists transform otherwise ordinary meals into spectacular works of food art. From cakes to lattes, these edible creations make a strong case for why you should play with your food. Malaysian maker Hazel Zakariya is one of the latest foodies to wow us with her unconventional visuals; rather than a canvas, she “paints” striking scenes across her smoothie bowls.

Using natural ingredients like turmeric, blue matcha, and activated charcoal, Zakariya forms detailed portraits of animals and characters from popular culture, such as the Night King from Game of Thrones. The amount of detail she's able to achieve—with just wooden skewers and a table knife—is awe-inspiring. Every bowl features subtle color changes and shading to give the painting a three-dimensional feel; you'd never expect that they were made with food stuffs. To add some extra pops of color, Zakariya garnishes each dish with small flowers.

With this level of skill and creativity, it seems like Zakariya must have a career in the arts—but surprisingly, that's not the case. A market analyst by day, she uses the art of food as her creative outlet. “I’ve rediscovered my love for painting and drawing.” she told Martha Stewart, “And it’s great to create art that is edible and tasty too. My husband and I share them as a treat.”

Hazel Zakariya celebrates the art of food with her amazing smoothie bowls that resemble traditional paintings.

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Mango, banana, honeydew, coconut yoghurt, coconut water, pitaya powder; On top: Coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal, mesquite powder, cacao & carob syrup, turmeric, pitaya powder

The Art of Food by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, turmeric, almond milk, coconut yoghurt, orange, pitaya powder; On top: Coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, banana, almond milk; On top: Mango, spinach, almond milk, coconut cream, tumeric, mixed berries, spirulina, butterfly pea tea

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, cauliflower, coconut cream, beetroot, almond milk; On top: Boysenberries, kale, coconut cream, spirulina, turmeric, freeze-dried plums

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, strawberry, peaches, coconut milk, coconut cream; On top: Coconut cream, coconut water, blackberries, blueberries, green spirulina, blue spirulina, turmeric, freeze-dried raspberries

The Art of Food by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, soy milk, coconut cream, pitaya powder; On top: Base smoothie ingredients, coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal, butterfly pea flower powder

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Mango, turmeric, almond milk, coconut yoghurt
On top: Coconut cream, boysenberries, freeze-dried plums, activated coconut charcoal

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, coconut cream, almond milk, activated coconut charcoal; On top: Coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal, Golden Turmeric Elixir, pitaya powder

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, coconut cream, almond milk, Cosmic brew; On top: Coconut cream, Cosmic brew, activated coconut charcoal, freeze-dried cherries, coconut chips

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Blueberries, mango, apple, oat milk, coconut cream, butterfly pea powder, spirulina, Kapowder blend; On top: Base smoothie ingredients, coconut cream, pitaya powder, activated coconut charcoal, raspberries, mesquite powder

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, blueberries, almond milk, coconut yoghurt, Cosmic Blue (coconut, blue spirulina & ginger); On top: Coconut cream, Pretty Brew (maqui, butterfly pea, rose), Detox brew (cacao, charcoal, cayenne)

Food Art Smoothie Bowls

Base smoothie: Banana, strawberries, almond milk, coconut cream, Pretty Brew; On top: Coconut cream, activated coconut charcoal, mesquite powder, spirulina, cacao & carob syrup

The Art of Food by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, apple, banana, soy milk, coconut cream, spirulina; On top: Coconut cream, carob and choc syrup, raspberries, activated coconut charcoal

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, peaches, soy milk, coconut cream; On top: Coconut cream, coconut water, kale, raspberries, blackberries, spirulina

The Art of Food by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Blueberries, mango, apple, oat milk, coconut cream, butterfly pea powder; On top: Base smoothie ingredients, coconut cream, pitaya powder, turmeric, spirulina, activated coconut charcoal, raspberries

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Base smoothie: Mango, strawberries, raspberries, almond milk, coconut cream; On top: Coconut cream, mango, blackberries, blueberries, green spirulina, turmeric, spinach

Food Art by Hazel Akariya

Zakariya regularly posts videos that reveal her incredible artistic process:

A post shared by Hazel Zakariya (@hazelzakariya) on

A post shared by Hazel Zakariya (@hazelzakariya) on

Hazel Zakariya: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Hazel Zakariya.

Related Articles:

21 Edible Works of Art That Are Almost Too Good to Eat

30 Blooming Flower Cakes for an Artfully Delicious Way to Welcome Spring

Loving Husband Prepares Beautifully Symmetrical Breakfasts Every Day for Himself and His Partner

Foodie Concocts Coconut Milk Bowls That Are Vibrant Works of Edible Art

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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