in the spotlight: “exhale” by yoko furusho
“headfone dreamy” by yoko furusho
on thursday, my roommate mark and i went to see my friend, yoko’s solo exhibition.
i got to know yoko perhaps a year ago, through my japanese blog. she is a friend of a friend’s, and i had clicked on her profile, after seeing her super cute, hand-drawn avatar. her work totally blows me away!! it’s so cute, so intricate and detailed, and so… japanese. i think that’s the best way to describe it!
yoko furusho is a recent graduate of the school of visual arts in new york. although if you ask me, she really doesn’t need much teaching because talent like that can’t be taught. you either have it or you don’t, and the girl sure has it!!
yoko recently won a competition with new york’s chopsticks magazine. this means she will be designing their cover for the next year! it’s a free magazine that i always pick up when i go to the japanese supermarkets or any japanese related store, so i’m really proud to tell everyone, “i know the girl who draws this!” heh heh.
her solo show was called exhale, and exhale we did!
![](http://queengilda.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/n777129512_594868_9709.jpg "yoko furuso \\"exhale\\"")
![](http://queengilda.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/n777129512_594866_9092.jpg "yoko furuso \\"exhale\\"")
![](http://queengilda.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/n777129512_594867_9393.jpg "yoko furuso \\"exhale\\"")
![](http://queengilda.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/n22500267_30541620_9494.jpg "yoko furusho \\"exhale\\"")
i notice a lot of similar color palettes in your illustrations, that are also very detailed and textured. have you always done this?
i think that’s my palette. i’ve never tried to use that color palette, it just comes out naturally.
have you always drawn in this same style or has your style developed over time?
i try not to think about “style”. i think, it develops when it develops. so, i’m not sure about it.
what inspires you?
i think all my pieces are based on my imagination. so, fantasy books? like alice in wonderland. and photographers.
“a mad tea party”
“the queen’s croquet-ground”
do you work in a studio or do you like going out to get inspiration?
i usually don’t need to go out to get the inspiration. i work at my place, but i’m gonna share the studio with my friends soooon!
how old where you when you first started drawing, and when did you decide you wanted to do this as a career?
i liked drawing since i was a child. and at that point, i already decided to live with something related to art.
“world04″
do you ever have days when you simply cannot draw?
yes.
what can’t you draw?
a lot of things!! but after started my career as an illustrator, i’ve been trying to put some objects that i’ve never drawn before in each illustration.
“galliano’s girl”
as an artist, does the city you’re in affect your work?
yes. this city makes me feel like, i can do everything. so it makes me stay positive and feel lot of possibilities. i think that because this city is full of energy.
what are your favorite mediums?
ink and acrylic.
“world”
which is your favorite illustration?
i like my illustration that i did only for me 
who are your favorite artistes or illustrators?
kiki smith, william kentridge, akio tomari and franceska woodman.
“seven deadly sins” for vain magazine
do you start off with an idea in your head, or do you just start drawing with a blank canvas and see where it goes?
both. for my personal piece, i usually start with nothing. for a job, i start with bunch of sketches.
what has been the most difficult piece that you’ve done so far?
nnn, every single time, i struggle!
what’s next for you?
i wanna try many many things! i think illustration is really usable art. like, i can print it on the fabric, can make a book, can be for magazine and so on. so i wanna try many possibilities, not only just for the magazine.
“moulin rouge”
i think she has a long and successful career ahead of her!! head on over to yokofurusho.com to see more of yoko’s amazing work. if you’re in new york and would like to see some of her work up close, go to destination new york, which is on little west 12th street in the meatpacking district. the exhibition runs till september 5th!
good luck, yoko! がんばってねぇ☆
all artwork copyright to yoko furusho
Oh I really like her work. It’s very detailed and … well i’ve only recently become interested in the more creative & arty side of life so I’m not the greatest to critique art but its very cute work your friend has done. I think you’re right, though, she certainly looks as though she could have a long potential career ahead of her.
PS: great photos.. top outfits (bonus points for your friends hat, too cool). .. and the show set up looks very well done.
Comment by Katie — August 4, 2008 @ 8:42 am
I LOVE Galliano’s Girl..
I’m linking to this!
Comment by Fabulously Broke — August 4, 2008 @ 10:11 am
Dear, thank you so much for showing us her work! They are very different, quirky and imaginative! I am totally in love with these xxxxxxxxx
Comment by Times of Glory — August 4, 2008 @ 10:18 am
She does very detailed and wonderful work!
Comment by enc — August 4, 2008 @ 11:19 am
what lovely work, congratulations to your friend, and I love her hat (&yr. Tshirt of course!)
Comment by fashionherald — August 4, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Those are beautiful!
Comment by Annie Spandex — August 4, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Gilda, I am so glad that you are back in the blog land and the new look of the site is fantastic.
It’s pink! Definitely my favourite color.
Your friend’s so talented and she’s probably going to go places….
Comment by Sharon — August 4, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
Inspiring~~~~ Wish her the best of all the amazing possibilities! If she does a printed textile with her visual arts I would totally buy!
Comment by Mynrose — August 4, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
such a talented artist - i especially love the moulin rouge artwork. it took me quite awhile that the background was a girl looking down upon them. at first i thought it was the sky/theatre background. just wonderful.
Comment by whimsical delights — August 5, 2008 @ 12:36 am
oh wow, her works are amazing!
Comment by Leanne — August 5, 2008 @ 5:12 am
Oh I love this! And the colours she uses. She is obviously very talented!
Comment by Queen Lazy — August 5, 2008 @ 8:01 am
Wow. Thats great work done by her. Keep it up!
Comment by Travel blogs — August 5, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
That is some very beautiful and detailed work. Thanks for introducing us to her!
Comment by Bridget — August 5, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
what a great artist! i like her work, thanks for the post! xo
Comment by Daiane — August 7, 2008 @ 6:37 am
Very talented. Thanks for this post, I didn’t know about her.
Love your shirt: Who killed Anna Wintour?. Don’t ask me why but I find it hilarious!
Comment by Raiment Urbane — August 7, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Looks awesome. Where is this exhibit, and is it still going on?
Comment by amandalee — August 7, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
thank you for your comments, everyone! i showed them to yoko and she was very happy
+amandalee+
it’s still on at destination new york, located in the meatpacking district!! i think it’s on till september 5th. go see if up close if you can!
Comment by gilda — August 10, 2008 @ 9:21 am
wowowowow!
i LOVE her work. thanks so much for sharing with us
hontoo~ni arigato~
Comment by hyedie — August 13, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
先日NYの本屋でみつけました。とってもかわいくて久しぶりのヒットです。NYには次いつ来ますか？
応援してます！
Comment by kumico — September 16, 2008 @ 1:09 am
+hyedie+
i couldn’t not share it. she was too good!
you’re welcomee
+kumico+
初めまして。コメントありがとー！本屋で見つけたって、ヨウコちゃんの雑誌カバーのことですか？かわいいですよね！！大好きなんです。彼女は、こっちに住んでるんですよぉ！
Comment by gilda — September 17, 2008 @ 4:54 am