Art Hound

It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these, but the other day I was looking at a print by Yoshitomo Nara, and it occurred to me that he would be the perfect choice for an Artist Cheatsheet. Seriously… why didn’t I think of this before?

.

The Japanese artist has dreamed up, and for many years been adding to, an alternate universe of puppies and doll-like girls who remain forever innocent in the confines of his idiosyncratic realm. The girls are achingly- cute, if ever such a thing existed, and convey a lot of spiritual allure despite their alien-ness. And while many artists depict children and try to convey the pleasures of childhood, Nara is really the grandfather of this theme in this day and age. His influence runs far and wide but here are some of my favorite artists whose work embody his youthful spirit.

.

Ashley G

.

.

Juri Ueda

.

.

Nancy Mungcal / pretty little thieves

.

Yosuke Ueno

.

.

.

Trish Grantham

.

.

Lisa Marie Godfrey

.

Juri Ueda is another artist I discovered thanks to LA gallery Black Maria.  Ueda studied illustration in San Francisco and now lives in Osaka, Japan. Her work looks straight out of one of my favorite art book, Drop Dead Cute which features the work of some of Japan’s new leading female artists.

The book’s description could be aptly applied to Ueda’s work as it “combines the pop charge of Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara with a thrilling personal mixture of sweetness and power… blend(ing) aspects of manga, anime, and traditional art with their own idiosyncratic visions…”

This new wave of Japanese female artists has created a world that combines cartoons and fairy tales and mixes innocence and with emotional depth. At first glance this art may seem totally rosy and sweet but there is sadness, loneliness and heartbreak too.

.

Juri sells prints and originals on her etsy shop.