Kaori Mitsushima is a Japanese illustrator currently based 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 became her home since 2014, giving her a base to explore much of Europe from. During her stay, Kaori participated in solo and group exhibitions in Berlin, Paris, Prague, and London. Presently, she works as a freelance illustrator for clients in Europe, Japan, and the United States. When Kaori is not drawing for clients, she likes to work on a series of drawings from her road trips in the south of France and contemplating getting her own driver’s license someday.
Clients Include:
Numéro Tokyo (Fusosha/Numéro Presse), GINZA (Magazine House), Centre français de recherche en sciences sociales (CEFRES), MY ZOE Producktion UG (production design: Sebastian Soukup), AMB100Ka (AMBIDEX), Bunka Fashion College, Goethe-Institut Prague (VRwandlung & Kasting Kafka, art direction: Mika Johnson/Daisy with Rider Productions) and more.
Languages:
• Japanese (native)
• English (fluent)
• French (intermediate)
Numéro Tokyo (Fusosha/Numéro Presse), GINZA (Magazine House), Centre français de recherche en sciences sociales (CEFRES), MY ZOE Producktion UG (production design: Sebastian Soukup), AMB100Ka (AMBIDEX), Bunka Fashion College, Goethe-Institut Prague (VRwandlung & Kasting Kafka, art direction: Mika Johnson/Daisy with Rider Productions) and more.
Languages:
• Japanese (native)
• English (fluent)
• French (intermediate)
Selected Works
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
Wabisabi Magazine, illustrations and hand lettering for a magazine and platform dedicated to the leading visionaries and creators in Japanese style, aesthetic and contemporary culture. Works as one of the main contributors of the platform and created images for its city guides and other spot illustrations. Client: WBSB MEDIA INC., New York, USA - editorial, advertising/promotion, web 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
JFOODO, illustrations for a promotional video that intended to spread recognition of Japanese rice flour as one of the essential products of a gluten-free bakery. The campaign was organized by the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO) established by the Japanese government. Client: manographer.com, Berlin, Germany - advertising/promotion
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
Madame Croissant, cover art for the second EP « Lyrical Dance », 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
2019
Fashion Festival 2019, Client: Bunka Fashion College, Design: Ko Ogura/Graffic Factor, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2018
AMB100Ka, Client: Ambidex, Art Direction & Design: Miki Kadokura, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2018
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
2018
Kasting Kafka, cultural event, Client & Art Direction: Goethe-Institut Prague and Mika Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic - advertising/promotion, production design
2018
Madame Croissant, cover art for the debut EP « Salut »
, Client & Art Direction: Nozomu Sato, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2018
Our Green Gap, collaborative dossier, Client: BESIDE magazine, Montreal, Canada - editorial
2017
Bunka Fashion Summer 2017, Client: Bunka Fashion College, Design: Ko Ogura/Graffic Factor, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2016
Bunka Fashion Festival 2016, Client: Bunka Fashion College, Design: Ko Ogura/Graffic Factor, Tokyo, Japan - advertising/promotion
2012
The Blue Teratorn, poetry ebook by Dorothea Lasky, Client & Design: YesYes Books, USA - editorial
Selected Interviews & Press
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
2015
Kumisolo Channel, June 2015, Rinse France, France *Radio
2014
Printed Matter, January 2014, USA
2013
Les Néréides Journal, July 2013, France
2013
Brooklyn Zine Fest, April 2013, USA
2012
Urban Outfitters, November & February 2012, USA
Selected Exhibitions & Art Book Fairs
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
2019
Drawing Busan/Busan Art Book Fair 2019, Busan, South Korea
2019
The World of Fragments, Galerie WA2, Tokyo, Japan *Translated the exhibited Japanese poems into English
2018
Between Me and You, Sowale, Berlin, Germany *Solo exhibition
2016
Memory of Strawberry Shortcakes, Ye’s kafe/studio, Prague, Czech Republic *Solo exhibition
2016
Swan Prague Festival 2016, Galerie GUD, Prague, Czech Republic
2014
Pictoplasma Berlin Conference & Festival, Berlin, Germany *Selected for "Character 3Selfies”
2014
Collectif Blanc/SPÉCIAL ILLUSTRATION, Atelier b, Librairie Formats, Montréal, Canada
2014
Kotoriten 3, CLASKA Gallery & Shop “DO” Shibuya PARCO, Tokyo, Japan
2013
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Tokyo, Japan
2013
Books From Tokyo, Common, Helsinki, Finland
2013
Brooklyn Zine Fest, Public Assembly, New York City, USA
2012
Kotoriten 2, NOW IDeA, Tokyo, Japan
2012
Grafixx, De Studio, Antwerp, Belgium
2012
FANZINES! Festival, Médiathèque Marguerite Duras, Paris, France
2012
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Tokyo, Japan
2012
Zine Fest Antwerp, De Studio, Antwerp, Belgium
2011
Salford Zine Library, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Salford, UK
2010
Rose-Eaters, Shibuya Publishing & Booksellers, Tokyo, Japan
2009
Classic, NOW IDeA, Tokyo, Japan