Natsumi Sato’s “peloringirl series,” featuring girls sticking out their tongues in vivid pop colors with a 90s feel, has become increasingly popular. On June 2, the artist opened a new solo exhibition at A.F GALLERY in Harajuku.   In addition to many of her past creations, visitors will also be able to see newly drawn works created especially for the exhibition, as well as works from the recently released NFT project City Pop TOKYO, for which Natsumi Sato acted as the character designer.   Sato is planning on holding exhibitions in Fukuoka and Osaka in the future.

From March 14 until April 23, 2023, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will hold Hisashi Eguchi’s Tokyo Girlfriend illustration exhibition, set to show off the artist’s unique perspectives on people and cityscapes. The exhibition will feature new illustrations of the titular girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya drawn especially for this exhibition, as well as various other girlfriends both large and small.

GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

A LONG VACATION - Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

 

Hisashi Eguchi, a manga artist and illustrator, continues to convey the charm of the city and its people by vividly depicting Tokyo and the many unique happenings within. As Tokyo Midtown Hibiya celebrates its 5th anniversary along with many other nearby businesses, the Tokyo Girlfriend exhibition of illustrations by Hisashi Eguchi is being held to celebrate.

The exhibition will feature a new painting of the mysterious girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya, newly created for the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya exhibition. A number of original pieces using Pantone overlay, Eguchi's favorite painting medium in the 80s and 90s, will also be on display for the first time.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy autograph sessions, live sketches in which Eguchi himself will draw a portrait of selected subject on the spot, and workshops where he will teach tips on how to be a better illustrator.

Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the greatest illustrators of the modern era!

  ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

BAPE KIDS®︎ is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a wholesome new collaboration with illustrator Chocomoo! The artist has become popular around the world for his pop style, and this new collection is sure to have kids heading to school in style.   The new items are available for kids of all ages and include everything from T-shirts and sweatshirts to skirts and rompers.   The design also incorporates the classic APE HEAD from A BATHING APE®︎, the popular BABY MILO®︎ character, and Chocomoo’s heart character.Chocomoo will participate in the special lookbook for this collaboration. A triple collaboration with the popular zipper bag brand Pake®︎ is also underway. Some of the products will have special Pake®︎ packaging for a limited time.   The Chocomoo collaboration items will be available at authorized BAPE KIDS®︎ stores and the BAPE.COM web store starting December 17, 2022. 

VISIONS 2023 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK, the newest edition of the popular art book edited by pixiv, was released on October 4, 2022. Art fans know the pixiv website as a place to share artwork, manga, and more.    The VISIONS book series began publication in 2020, and the total number of copies sold worldwide has surpassed 150,000. The latest 2023 issue features works by 170 creators, allowing readers a glimpse into the current state of illustration today.The cover art was drawn by Mika Pikazo, a character designer for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo's Fire Emblem series. Mika Pikazo has long been pursuing new forms of expression in digital art, including incorporating cubism. Digital art is often treated as something vastly different from traditional art such as paintings and sculptures, but the cover art of this book challenges this belief by blending digital and traditional art. Pikazo’s vivid colors and exquisite brushwork are a must-see. In addition to providing the cover art, a 7,000-word special interview with Mika Pikazo delving into his thoughts and vision can be found in the new book, providing a detailed view of what the digital art scene will look like in 2023.

‘Rooms,’ Umishima Senbon’s first solo exhibition, is currently underway at the pixiv WAEN GALLERY by TWIN PLANET x pixiv until May 5, 2022!  

Goods at a Glance

  After working as a chief animation director and character designer, Umishima Senbon is now an illustrator and manga artist. This exhibition features approximately 70 illustrations on canvas to specifically highlight the artist’s characteristic use of soft colors and delicate brush strokes. Some of the works will be swapped out during the second half of the exhibition, allowing visitors to see even more images–110 in total! Certain pieces will be available for purchase exclusively at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.

The online art exhibition for artists from the current era 'Creator's Show Up Gallery Online' has announced the creation of a new original catalog, along with a contest to decide the best work from among the exhibitors' booths.   The original catalog will include the works of all exhibitors of the online gallery. The cover features a key visual drawn by najuko. For those wanting to be included in the catalog, register as an exhibitor on the site, and then register for a booth. Sales will begin on January 20, 2021 for a limited time only.    Contest DetailsA new contest is being held under the theme of 'the emergence of new talent.' Winners can snag prizes regardless of fame or achievements prior, and the top prize is ¥100,000 and a YouTube thumbnail created by singer-songwriter John/TOOBOE.