Yoshitomo Nara

Sophie Stover

C Block

Yoshitomo Nara is an artist who was born on December 5th 1959. He currently lives in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. His work reflects isolation, rebellion and spirituality. His style consists of big headed girls that resemble children. His style is inspired by the music he’s listening to, the comic books he read as a child and items from Japanese Culture. The materials he commonly uses are acrylic. He also sometimes makes sculptures of children and dogs. Other than painting and sculpting, he also does sketches of his signature models.

I chose Yoshitomo Nara’s work because I liked his childlike style and how cartoonish and simple it looks. I also like the color pallet that Nara uses. In some of his paintings, he uses vibrant, soft colors that put one’s mind at ease. However sometimes he uses darker and bland colors that still express his thoughts. Some of his work is a little creepy but still expresses his emotions. I also liked how he incorporated themes of spirituality and isolation. Often in his work, he sometimes includes a few words that express either rebellion or making peace. I love how his work has a mix of an angsty old man who is just tired of life but at the same time an old soul that just wants the world to get along.

People can see Yoshitomo Nara’s work in person at measuams all over the world. Most of his work is stored at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. At the LACMA, there are 800 pieces of Nara’s work. There is even a wall of album covers that he’s collected over the years that have inspired him. There is also a mini house in the museum that is like a mini studio with artwork scattered around inside.

Yoshitomo Nara’s instagram: Yoshitomo, Nara. Login • Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/B008PQTFGhx/.  

Yoshitomo Nara’s official website:“Yoshitomono Nara.” Artnet.com, http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/.  

Work:

Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/ 

Artist:

Yoshitomo Nara (Japanese, born 1959)

Title:

Guitar Girl, 2003

Medium:

Prints and multiples, Lithograph in colors

Edition:

Edition of 75

Size:

65.5 x 50.3 in. (166.4 x 127.8 cm.)

Price:

Price on Request

Movement:

Contemporary Art

Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/ 

Artist:

Yoshitomo Nara (Japanese, born 1959)

Title:

Real One , 2020

Medium:

offset lithograph in colours on wove paper

Size:

63 x 73.5 cm. (24.8 x 28.9 in.)

Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/ 

Artist:

Yoshitomo Nara (Japanese, born 1959)

Title:

Fight, 2015

Medium:

woodcut

Edition:

ed. 25/25

Size:

42 x 29 cm. (16.5 x 11.4 in.)

Sale:

The 163rd Art Auction, Tuesday, October 26, 2021,

Lot 104

Estimate:

Est. 50,000,000–80,000,000 KRW ?

(42,457–67,931 USD)

Provenance:

Blum & Poe(Los Angeles)

Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/ 

Artist:

Yoshitomo Nara (Japanese, born 1959)

Title:

Little Wanderer, 2003

Medium:

Injection molded and Rotomolded plastic

Size:

11 x 6.5 in. (27.9 x 16.5 cm.)

Price:

Price on Request

Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitomo-nara/ 

Artist:

Yoshitomo Nara (Japanese, born 1959)

Title:

PupCup

Medium:

Injection molded and Rotomolded plastic

Size:

9.5 x 8 x 8 in. (24.1 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm.)

Price:

650 USD

Bibliography:

Marino, Nick. “Yoshitomo Nara Paints What He Hears.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 July 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/t-magazine/yoshitomo-nara.html.  unknown.

“Yoshitomo Nara.” LACMA, LACMA, https://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/yoshitomo-nara.