Kaori Mitsushima is a Japanese illustrator who resides and works in Marseille, France. After studying Japanese painting in Tokyo, where she was born and raised, Kaori left Japan to get outside her comfort zone: Her first stop, Berlin, made her realize she had neither the motivation nor the talent for making experimental music, her previous passion. Kaori then moved to New York City, where she began illustrating for poets and making drawings of humanoid cats. After several road trips across the USA, one of which included a four day visit to a Lakota reservation, celebrating Sundance, the holiest of Native American rituals, Kaori landed back in Europe.
Prague was her home for eight years starting in 2014, giving her a base to explore much of Europe. During this time, Kaori participated in solo and group exhibitions in Berlin, Paris, Prague and London. In 2023, she moved to Marseille, where she lives with her French partner, grows Japanese basil plants, and watches the neighbors' cats from the kitchen window.
Clients Include
BAYCREW’S, Numéro Tokyo (Fusosha/Numéro Presse), GINZA (Magazine House), Bunka Fashion College, Prague Superguide (2022-2023 Edition), Centre français de recherche en sciences sociales (CEFRES), Goethe-Institut Prague (VRwandlung exhibition) and more.
Languages
• Japanese (native)
• English (fluent)
• French (advanced)
Clients Include
BAYCREW’S, Numéro Tokyo (Fusosha/Numéro Presse), GINZA (Magazine House), Bunka Fashion College, Prague Superguide (2022-2023 Edition), Centre français de recherche en sciences sociales (CEFRES), Goethe-Institut Prague (VRwandlung exhibition) and more.
Languages
• Japanese (native)
• English (fluent)
• French (advanced)
Selected Works
2024La Totalité (BAYCREW’S), illustrations and hand lettering for the holiday window displays of La Totalité, the Japanese women’s clothing brand, at their two boutiques in Tokyo. Client: BAYCREW’S, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2022
Sève, illustration for «Anna hors-saison» by Vidya Narine, published in the inaugural issue of the French literary magazine, in collaboration with Sève Éditions., Paris, France - editorial
2022
Prague Superguide 6 ︎, book cover and spot illustrations for the 6th edition of Prague Superguide, an alternative guidebook of the Czech capital created by local creatives. Client: Mira Vales, Design: Marius Corradini, Prague, Czech Republic - editorial
2022 / 2019 / 2017 / 2016
Bunka Fashion Summer, Client: Bunka Fashion College, Design: Ko Ogura/Graffic Factor, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2022
Vous n'aurez pas ma haine ︎, a feature film by Kilian Riedhof, Client: Komplizen Film, Production Design: Sebastian Soukup, Berlin, Germany - production design
2021
CEFRES 30th Anniversary, illustrations, visual identity, 2D animation for two parts of the 30th anniversary conference of the French research center in humanities and social sciences. Client: CEFRES, Prague, Czech Republic - advertising/promotion
2021
Bench Made, spot illustrations for a Japanese artisanal shoemaker’s website. Client: Bench Made (Yukiko Okawa), Design: Ko Ogura/Graffic Factor, Tokyo, Japan - web design
2021
Daisy with Rider ︎, illustrations, 2D animations, hand lettering, and visual identity for a production company crafting experiences for extended realities (VR, AR). Client: Daisy with Rider Productions, s.r.o, Prague, Czech Republic - visual identity, web design
2021
GINZA, spot illustrations and hand lettering for the Japanese fashion magazine’s featured article in March 2021 issue, Client: Magazine House, Tokyo, Japan - editorial
2020
Numéro Tokyo, illustrations and hand lettering for the Japanese fashion magazine’s featured article in January/February 2021 issue, Client: Fusosha, Tokyo, Japan - editorial
2020 / 2018
Madame Croissant, cover art for the first and second EP, Client & Art Direction: Nozomu Sato, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2019
My Zoe, a feature film by Julie Delpy, Client: MY ZOE Producktion UG, Production Design: Sebastian Soukup, Berlin, Germany - production design
2019
Beyond 1989, international conference, Client: CEFRES - Centre français de recherche en science sociales, Design: Jana Krchova, Prague, Czech Republic - advertising/promotion
2018
AMB100Ka, Client: Ambidex, Art Direction & Design: Miki Kadokura, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2018
KASTING KAFKA / VRwandlung, virtual reality adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Client & Art Direction: Goethe-Institut Prague and Mika Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic - advertising/promotion, production design
Selected Exhibitions & Events
2024Marchés de Noël / Le Chat de Mars holiday card pop-up shop, La Fabrique du Canal, December 2024, Paris, France
Première traversée, Essence Marseille, September 2024, Marseille, France
*Created exclusive porcelain knife rests for a pop-up dinner event inspired by seaweed and vegetables, organized by Assaborar Marseille
2024
Daydreams, Librairie Piece A Part, July 2024, Marseille, France
*Duo exhibition with Ceramicist Akitsu Orii
2022
“Drawing Club” at Kobe Matsuri, organized by the Kobe-Marseille Sister City Association MARSEKOBE, Coco Velten, October 2022, Marseille, France
Participation in children's art workshop
2022
Prague Superguide 6 x Kaori Mitsushima, Ye’s kafe/studio, August 2022, Prague, Czech Republic
Book launch & pop-up shop of original illustrations of the publication
2019
La recette de l’amour fou: textile exhibition, Bento Cococo, Paris, France *Solo exhibition
2019
Land of the Rising Cat, Sway Gallery London, London, UK
Book launch & group exhibition
2019
Drawing Busan/Busan Art Book Fair 2019, Busan, South Korea
2018
Between Me and You, Sowale, Berlin, Germany *Solo exhibition
2016
Memory of Strawberry Shortcakes, Ye’s kafe/studio, Prague, Czech Republic *Solo exhibition
2014
Pictoplasma Berlin Conference & Festival, Berlin, Germany *Selected for "Character Selfies”
2014
Collectif Blanc/SPÉCIAL ILLUSTRATION, Atelier b, Librairie Formats, Montréal, Canada
2014
Kotoriten 3, CLASKA Gallery & Shop “DO” Shibuya PARCO, Tokyo, Japan
2013
Brooklyn Zine Fest, Public Assembly, New York City, USA
2012
FANZINES! Festival, Médiathèque Marguerite Duras, Paris, France
Selected Press & Publications
2023We Cats - Cat Thinkers ︎, February 2023, Japan
2020
Numéro Tokyo, April 2020, Japan
2019
Land of the Rising Cat, September 2019, Prestel Publishing, UK, USA
2019
Marianne Bydleni, February 2020, Czech Republic
2015
A Journey Through Monochrome Illustrations, August 2015, BNN inc., Japan
2014
Printed Matter, January 2014, USA
2012
Urban Outfitters, November & February 2012, USA