Ayako Akai

Illustrator / 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 TRiCELA.

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)