Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimizu

Award winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City and instructor at School of Visual Arts.

Trussardi’s short animated film Sky Watcher is released

Just came back from Tokyo.
Main reason of this visit, first time in 14 and half years since I left there in 1999, was to attend Italian fashion brand Trusssardi‘s event at Two Rooms in Aoyama, Tokyo. The event was to release a short animated film SKY WATCHER celebrating 40 year anniversary of their famous greyhound logo.
The film was directed by James Lima, a big name in fashion film.  I was involved in the project as a concept artist, dedicating most of September and October to work on close to 100 drawings that were then turned into 3D objects then to an animation film.
The film was released on December 4 in Tokyo as well as at Trussardi flagship store in Milan, and can be seen online on Trussardi website and on YouTube


As an illustrator working in the field for more than ten years, I have recently been thinking about how to bring my work to the next level, to something more than just print media. To expand one’s horizon, one have to take risks of loosing a total control of one’s work, meaning, teaming up with third parties who take one’s images and create something completely new out of them. It is a scary thought, then again, without the risks and trust for teams of professionals who are good at what they do (in this case animation) there will be no progress.

Thank you creative director Gaia Trussardi, director James Lima, Tomaso Galli, Federica Salmerigo, Giulia Lupo, Trussardi Japan, Aaron Barr of BA-Reps,  and everyone on the team for giving me this rare opportunity. And, last but not least, thank you Rovina Cai who came into my studio almost every day to help me scan and color numerous drawings through out the process.

some of the characters and Milan City designs I have created that were later turned into 3D objects:











some scenes from the film:

you can watch the full film on Trussardi website and on YouTube

the whole event space in Aoyama was turned into Sky Watcher world (all the photos from the events are copyrighted to Trussardi):

from left: Gaia Trussardi, James Lima and me at the event

some press:
Vogue Italia  D Repubblica (Italy)  WWD (USA)  Embelezzia (Spain)

conversation with Tatiana Córdoba

2013 is coming close to the end. My life is never perfect, but I think I had a pretty good year. How about you?
One of the best part of the year was that I was able to travel to places I never thought I would have a chance to visit, and met some wonderful people along the way.

One of those memorable trips included a week in Bogotá, Colombia  in April to speak and give workshop during illustration conference Congreso Internacional de Ilustración. 
there I met a young, talented and enthusiastic illustrator Tatiana Cordoba, who had recently worked on a graphic novel about the life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabo: Mamorias de una Vida Mágica.  We became good friends, and she took me around all around Bogota.

One quiet afternoon, Tatiana and I sat  in a cozy coffee shop slash book store located right near now closed bull fighting arena to have a conversation. She has recently published it both in Spanish and English, so I wanted to share with you. Also, some pictures I took during the magical trip to Bogota are posted here as well.
read the interview in Spanish here.
read the interview in English here.

Tatiana and me, in front of the cathedral, on a rainy day in Bogota

The Original Art Founder’s Award for Barbed Wire Baseball

The Original Art exhibit opened last week at the Society of Illustrators. This is an annual competition for children’s book that was published this year.  The book I illustrated Barbed Wire Baseball was honored to receive Founder’s Award, which is given each year to an illustrator who is new to children’s book.
I know, I have been illustrating for more than ten years now, and I have to be honest I was feeling a bit guilty receiving the award for ‘new’ artist. But the jury members and the Society reassured I fully qualified to receive this because it is, in fact, my first children’s book.
I always knew working on a children’s book is a ton of work and it is a pure labor of love. I became ill under huge pressure and stress while I was working on the final images two falls ago (to the point I had to rush to ER. No worries I have fully recovered!), but looking at this shiny medal, I feel all the work was worth the effort!
Thank you very much for the founder of The Original Art Dilys Evans, as well as everyone who was involved in the show. Also big thank you goes to AD Chad Beckerman at Abrams, editor Howard Reeves, and the writer Marissa Moss,
You can see all the original art works accepted into the show at the Society of Illustrators till December 21.
See pages from Barbed Wire Baseball here   Purchase from Amazon here

workshop in Sarajevo (studio is closed)

I took off to Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina to teach a three day workshop and give a lecture at SOS Dizajn Festival.
The trip finalized last minutes, so I didn’t have enough time to spread the words, but if you are in Sarajevo area, you should come stop by! More info here.
I would love to meet you, locals. Take me to the coffee shops and long walks I have been reading about. 

Big thank you to the organizers of SOS who made this happen, and Mr. Mirko Ilić, acclaimed designer and my SVA MFA professor, for connecting us together.

Studio in New York is therefore closed. I will be back on regular schedule from Wednesday, October 16. Thank you and have a good week.

exhibition @ Madformacs, Barcelona opening this Friday


Friends at Madformacs, design studio + design shop located in the center of Barcelona, Spain, is going to be showing my work from this Friday for two months.
So, if you live in the area, or have a plan to visit this beautiful city in next two months, please come stop by.
Opening party is on September 13, 2013 from 7:30PM, and you can join and get more info on their Facebook event here. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it to the opening due to the new school year here in the US, as well as extensive projects I am working on right now 🙁 But, booze will be served, so you should go and have fun!

Madformacs is located  on Muntaner 111, Barcelona, 08036, Spain. See map here

SKETCHTRAVEL’s final exhibition in Tokyo

SKETCHTRAVEL‘s final exhibit opened last week in Tokyo (渋谷ヒカリエ 8/CUBE). This two week exhibit is the final destination for the traveling exhibit which started in San Francisco and traveled through Kyoto. (I contributed to the Kyoto exhibit by providing the poster design.)

All the exhibiting works, framed direct reproduction from the pages of  SKETCHTRAVEL sketchbook, went for sale to fund a new library through Room To Read.  I was told that every piece got sold within the first week, and the new library in Africa is now becoming a reality.
The show is open till this Sunday, and admission is free. Sketchtravel reproduction book is published through Chronicles Books in the USA.

There is a beautifully documented interview to the organizer and originator Dice Tsutsumi by Shigesato Itoi. It makes you cry, worth reading. (Sorry, in Japanese only)

サンフランシスコから始まり京都を経て、最後のスケッチトラベル展がこの日曜まで渋谷ヒカリエ 8/CUBEで開催されています（入場無料）。スケッチブック自体に参加した以外に、京都展ではポスターの原画を描かせていただきました。
今回が最終の展示という事で、展示に使われた複製画は、チャリティーRoom To Readを通してアフリカに新たな図書館を寄付するために販売されました。開催６日で完売とのことです。ご購入くださった皆様に感謝致します。
なお、日本版のスケッチトラベル複製本は飛鳥新社から出版されています。

ほぼ日刊イトイ新聞 に主催者堤大介さんと糸井重里さんの対談が掲載されています。涙でます。是非読んでください。


autographed copies now available from Books of Wonder

Thank you for those who came to the signing last Saturday.
But for those who missed the event, or live too far away to attend the event, Books of Wonder is now selling the autographed copies online and  at their NY store. While supplies last.
They also have great selections of autographed copies by many kids book authors and artists. So, check them out.
Buy autographed copies here. 
See inside of Barbed Wire Baseball book here. 

signing at Books of Wonder, NY, May 11

Kids and parents, and those of you grown ups who love picture books, come to Books of Wonder on Saturday, May 11.
I will be signing my first kids book Barbed Wire Baseball , and speaking a bit about what’s behind creating this book. Six other artists who recently published new kids book from Abrams are going to be there too.

Books of Wonder is located on 18 West 18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, New York City. Event is on May 11 (Saturday), from 12:00noon to 2:00PM. Come stop by!

lecture at Art Institute of Boston, April 4

If you are in Boston area, I will be there next week on April 4 (Thursday) to visit Art Institute of Boston for a day.
Evening lecture is open to the public. Come stop by!
6pm, in Room N340 at the Art Institute of Boston  on 601 Newbury Street.

Thank you Art Institute of Boston for the invitation, and opening up the event to anyone who may be interested.

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