Ayako Akai
Painter
Living with Fantasy..I express the theme of the gentle and sweet world that always exists in the depths of my heart in parallel even though the mind is occupied with the daily chores of adulthood and the overflow of information.
It is a world of sounds heard, colors and shapes seen for the first time, touches on the skin, and love received from the world in childhood.If you quiet your mind, you can always feel these scenes.
I was born in Japan and grew up in New Jersey, US for five years as a child. I am currently working as an illustrator and painter, strongly influenced by my childhood memories and picture books in US. I graduated from Keio University, and then went on to study at Kuwasawa Design School. After that I was instructed by Masao Aoki and Shinichi Fukui.I have a solo exhibition about once a year, and I mainly work on illustrations for books, web, advertising. Now I am based in Hanoi, Vietnam.
E-mail aaakolala@live.jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayako_akai/
My original art is available at TRiCERA.
https://www.tricera.net/ja/artist/painters/8105111
Awards
2023 The 226th The Choice, Prize
2021 The 220th The Choice, Prize
2021 Oshima International Handmade Picture Book Contest 2021,Prize
2016 The Japan Book Design Award 2016,Prize
2015 Tokyo Book Jacket Illustration Competition, Prize
2014 Tokyo Book Jacket Illustration Competition, Prize
2012 Tokyo Book Jacket Illustration Competition, Prize
2012 Japan Douga Award, Prize
Main works
2017 Advertising for the Tokyu Plaza Akasaka building display
2019 Illustration for the cover of "Kodomo no Hon no Michirube" by Jiro Saito (Kodomo no Mirai-sha)
Designed other pamphlets and flyers
Solo show
2014 Solo Exhibition "Ohana ga yurei no wa" (Japan)
2019 Solo Exhibition "At Studio Hanaya" ((Japan)
2020 Solo exhibition "Flowers Dancing around the Tree" (Japan)
2021 Solo Exhibition "E wa Sekai wo Mirumado" (Japan)
Group Show
2012 The 3rd StuDio EHon Exhibition
2013 "Forest in Early Summer" exhibition
2013 The 4th StuDio EHon Exhibition
2014 "The Picture Book in Me" Exhibition
2014 The 5th StuDio EHon Exhibition
2015 "Shop with Waffles and Delicious Smiles" Exhibition at Jarona, Akasaka
2016 The 6th StuDio E・Hon Exhibition at Galerie LUDECO, Shibuya, Tokyo
2017 The 7th StuDio E・Hon Exhibition, Ebisu Hiroshige Gallery, Tokyo
2017 "Love Reflected in the Eyes", Jarona, Akasaka, Tokyo
2017 Walk Gallery in Autumn, Akasaka-mitsuke Tokyu Plaza Akasaka, Tokyo
2018 "The Prince and The Princess" Exhibition at Jalona, Akasaka
2019: The 9th StuDio E・Hon Exhibition (Shibuya Gallary Deco)
2021 "New, . . and continue" (Baron d'Essai Latte & Art, Shimokitazawa)
2024 TRiCERA "100Nin10" (SHIBUYA CAST)