Whatever shape or form it takes, Aya Kakeda’s art is a burst of color and whimsicality. Born and raised in Tokyo, she’s now based in Brooklyn, NY, where her art spans from illustration, printmaking, and painting to installation, embroidery, and even ceramic sculptures. In other words: it’s all fun and games.
“My art education is in illustration, but while I was in school I started to be more interested in Fine Art,” Kakeda further relayed in an interview with AG Gallery. “Now I split my time being a illustrator, Fine artist, and educator.” She also collaborates with commercial brands, with selected clients including NIKE, Nickelodeon, The New York Times, The New Yorker Magazine, and The Washington Post.
With thousands of followers online, Kakeda’s appeal is very obvious, with her Japanese-inspired illustrations both playful and surreal. “There is some sort of humor in it,” she says, adding that she enjoys the contrasts between reality and imagination, dark and light, and cute and ugly.
“When I started out, I started by remembering my imaginary world that I had when I was little,” she recalls. “And now that world has been expanding over the years.” You’re invited to step right in.
