Born in Tokyo, Aya Kakeda has graduated from the New York School of Visual Arts, has taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology and is currently a lecturer at MICA BFA Illustration Program.
Currently based in Brooklyn, NYC, Aya Kakeda is an internationally successful illustrator and ceramicist. Her works area characterised by intricate landscapes which form the backdrop to her surreal and mysterious creatures. Aya’s work is whimsical and humorous, rich in colourful details that reveal the artist’s endless imagination. Experimenting with different materials and expanding in different directions, she finds inspiration in her childhood memories and fiction books by authors such as Keiichi Tanaami. She is also highly influenced by the rich symbology of Murakami and the pointillism of of Kusama. With hyper-detailed patterns, her works create irresistible scenarios that evoke the most joyful adventures of our dreams.
To date, Kakeda has collaborated in art projects for books, products, magazines, posters, and store installations for clients from all over the world. Her work appeared in NIKE, Delta, Disney Hyperion Books, KidRobot, The New York Times, The New Yorker Magazine, Washington Post, Runners World, Nickelodeon, Noggin TV, Plan Sponsors Magazine, Men's Journal, Roger la Borde, Macy's and HongKong Mega Mall.
