Yumiko Kayukawa grew up in the small town of Naie in Hokkaido, Japan. In this pristine, natural surroundings, she found her love of animals and nature which later became an important theme of her work. As she grew up, Yumiko drew inspirations from American pop culture such as Rock & Roll, film and fashion. These influences are fused with modern and traditional Japanese motifs to create her unique style.
Yumiko’s debut as an artist was with a Manga feature when she was just 16. She later attended and graduated from Bisen Art School in Sapporo, Japan. She lives in Seattle, Washington since 2005.

粥川由美子―北海道の小さな町、奈井江町で生まれ育つ。幼少よりロック音楽や映画、ファッションなど欧米のポップ文化に傾倒。動物や自然を愛し、それらを日本的なモチーフと混合し表現している。16歳でマンガ誌上デビュー。北海道総合美術専門学校(札幌)卒業。2005年より米国ワシントン州シアトル市在住。

EDUCATION

1990 BISEN Art School, Sapporo, Japan (awarded the art exhibition prize)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015
“Run To The Hills” at Grave Gallery, Seattlee, WA (May)

2014
“HINOEUMA – Year of The Fire Horse” at Foley Gallery, NY (Jun)

2013
“Madness” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Jun)

2012
“HAKURYUU – White Dragon” at LeBasse projects, Culver City, CA (Sep)

2011
“Coming Home” at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Sep)
“Rock you in a Tatami Room” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Mar)

2010
“49 Days” at La Luz DE Jesus Gallery, Los Angels, CA (Sep)

2009
“Wild Wild East” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Nov)
“Higashi No Kamisama (God from the East)” at Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY (Jul)

2008
“The Last 34″ at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Dec)
“Japanese Wolf” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Aug)
“Extinction” at La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Apr)

2007
“World Wide Enemy” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Aug)
“Girl Cocktail” at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Feb)

2006
“I’m from Japan. My father is Ninja, My mother is Geisha” at La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Jul)

2005
Solo Show at DC Gallery, Denver, CO (Apr-May) 2004
“Yumiko Kayukawa” at Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Apr)

2003
Solo Show at Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Dec)
Solo Show at C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI (Oct)
“Yumiko Kayukawa” at Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Apr-May)

2002
Solo Show at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Mar)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015
“Glass Cinder & Thorns III” at Inner State Gallery, Detroit, MI (Mar)
“Dreamlands” at CHG Circa, Culver City, CA (Mar)

2014
“The Coaster Show” at La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angels, CA (Sep)
“An Even Eleven” Anniversary group show at Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Mar)

2013
“SCOPE Miami Beach 2013″ (via Shooting Gallery) Miami, FL (Dec)
“In the Eye of the Beholder” at Applegate Gallery, Culver City, CA (Nov)
“Beer Is Art” at La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angels, CA (Sep)
“Devils & Robots” at QPop, Los Angels, CA (Jun)
“Pretty Girls” at Above Second, Hong Kong (Apr)

2012
“Kingdom Animalia” Benefit Big Life Foundation, Land Rover, Anaheim Hills, CA (Jun)
“London art fair” at Business Design Centre, London, UK (Jan)

2011
“American 80s in Japan” at WWA Gallery, Culver city, CA (Nov)
“Looking Forward” at Foley Gallery, New York, NY (Nov)
“Kamen Rider vs Super Sentai Anniversaries Tribute” at JACCC, Los Angels, CA (Nov)
“Body of waters” at Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary art, Indianapolis, IN (Nov)
“La Luz de Jesus 25″ at La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angels, CA (Nov)
“Girl Power” at FB69 Gallery, Munster, Germany (Sep)
“The Enchanted Forest” at Civic Museum of Reggio Emilia, Italy (Jun)
“Apocalypse Meow” at Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA (May)
“The Enchanted Forest” at Strychnin Gallery, Berlin, Germany (May)
“Japanese Artists Tsunami Fundraiser” at Joe bar, Seattle, WA (May)
“Momentum” at LeBasse project, Los Angels, CA (Apr)
“You Lucky Bastard” Ayden Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (Apr)
“SugiPOP!” at LeBasse project, Culver city, CA (Mar)
“LYRIC” at 323East Gallery, Royal Oak, MI (Mar)

2010
“The Idol Hours” at London Miles Gallery, London, England (Nov)
“SugiPOP!” at Portsmouth museum of art, Portsmouth, NH (Oct)
“Beyond Eden Art Fair”, Los Angels, CA (Oct)
“Looking East” at Yves Laroche Gallery, Montreal, Canada (Jun)
“Tiger Tiger Burning Bright” at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Apr)
“Aftershock LA” at ROYAL/T, Culver City, C(Apr)
“New Brow 3″ at The Alternative Cafe, Seaside, C(Mar)
“New Moon” at My Plastic Heart, New York, N(Jan.)

2009
“Family First” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Jan)
Scoop art fair, New York, NY (Mar)
SXSW art fair, Austin, TX (Mar)
ACRIA “Unframed” charity event, New York, NY (Jun)
“Sweet Streets” at Nucleus Gallery, Alhambra, CA (Aug)
“Three Apples – celebrating 35 years of HELLO KITTY” at Royal T, Culver City, CA.
“Juxtapoz 15th Anniversary Show”, Los Angels, CA (Nov)

2008
“The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful” (with Niagara) at The Richard Goodall Gallery, Manchester, England (Sep)

2007
“Pre-Halloween” (show with Ojimbo) at Roq La Lue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Oct)
“Tag of War” at Hemphill Fine Arts, Washington, DC (Mar)

2006
“We’ll Make a Lover of You” at Miami Art Center for Miami Art Basel, Miami, FL (Dec)
“Bliss Express” at Nucleus Gallery, St. Alhambra, CA (Oct)
“Dr. Suess Tribute” at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Aug)
“007 Tribute” at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Jul)
“Year Of The Dog” (with John John Jesse) at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (May)
Juxtapoz Magazine Group Show at Ox-Op Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (Mar)
“Young Guns” by Chester’s Blacksmith Shop at the Sundance Film Festival (Jan)

2005
“Beast From The East” (with Moira Hahn) at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Nov)
“The Girl Show” at Nucleus Gallery, St. Alhambra, CA (Sep)
“New Works by Yumiko Kayukawa, Lisa Alisa, and Wanyu Chou” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Jan)

2004
“Yumiko/Oksana” (with Oksana Badrak) at Ox-Op Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (Nov)
Show with Kii Arens at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Oct)
“Juxtapoz Show” (curated by editors of Juxtapoz Magazine) at Fuse Gallery, New York, NY (Oct)
“I Love Tiki” at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (May)
“Tokyo Monster” at The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA (May)
“XX Chromosome” at Ox-Op Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (Apr)
“Modern Love” at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs, CA (Feb)
“Jewelbox” (with Kipling West and Andrew Brandou aka Howdy Pardner) at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Feb)

2003
“Nice and Naughty” (with John John Jesse) at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Apr)
“Gods and Monsters” at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Jan)

2002
Show with Anthony Ausgang at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Sep)
“Draw!” at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (May)
BEMIS group show, Seattle, WA (Apr)

2001
“Dean Karr and Yumiko Kayukawa” (debut show in the U.S.) at Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA (Jul)

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rutledge, Bruce. “I Love Kawaii.” IBUKI November/December, 2010
MaMinguet, Josep, ed. Sweet Illustration. Barcelona, Spain: Monsa Publications, 2010
Three Apples An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty. California: Sanrio Ink., 2009
Hernandez, Barbara E. “Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!” Geek Monthly, March 2009
Goodot, Rina I. “Innocent Yet Seductive.” Babyboss Magazine 4, vol.1 ,2008
Chia, Althea. Bliss Express – Illustrating Happiness. Toronto: GUU Press, 2006
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Double Trouble.” The Stranger, August 10–16, 2006, Cover, Seattle edition.
Giarla, Justin, ed. The Wild Kingdom of Yumiko Kayukawa. San Francisco: 9mm Books, 2006
Peters, Sue. “Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2005.” Seattle Weekly, November 20, 2005, Arts section, Seattle and online editions
Peters, Sue. “Nov. 16-22, 2005.” Seattle Weekly, November 16, 2005, Arts section, online edition
Brereton, Richard, and Marc Valli, ed. Graphic 08 – Ornate! Netherlands: Book Industry Services (BIS) Publishers, 2005
Fantasy Magazine vol.45, April (2005)
Tucker, Annie. “Showstoppers.” Juxtapoz 49, February/March (2004)
Davis, Brangien. “Yumiko Kayukawa.” Vodka Magazine 1, February (2004)
Hall, Emily. “In Arts News: News from the Sector.” The Stranger, September 3-10, 2003, Visual Arts, Seattle edition
Hall, Emily. “In Art News: Signs of Life.” The Stranger, April 10-16, 2003, Visual Arts, Seattle edition
Hall, Emily. “Yumiko Kayukawa.” The Stranger, March 1, 2002, Visual Arts, Seattle edition
Brierly, Tom. “The ‘Superflat’ Art of Yumiko Kayukawa.” The International Examiner, August 16, 2001, Cover/Arts
Hall, Emily. “No Logic, Just Desire: Kayukawa and Undine Create Perfect ‘Ads’.” The Stranger, August 2-8, 2001, Visual Arts, Seattle edition
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Untitled.” The Stranger, July 12-18, 2001, Cover, Seattle edition
Greenblatt, Leah. “Days of Our Nights.” Seattle Weekly, July 11, 2001, Arts section, online edition
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Cover.” New Generation Magazine, September (2000)
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Cover.” New Generation Magazine, March (1999)
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Power.” The Marguerite, (1991)
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Bonnetto Ni Neko (A Cat on the Hood).” The Marguerite, (1988)
Kayukawa, Yumiko. “Merry Christmas Children.” In BETSUMA, (1986)

Bio photo by: Fumiko Yarita