Featured Artist: Ryurakudo

Ryurakudo’s designs portray innocent themes that have an undercurrent of something darker or more sinister lurking beneath the surface. The prominently black, white, and red images – made with bold artistic lines – offer us an adorable panda bear that has fallen down the stairs or a fluffy llama with a skull for a face. The funny yet disquieting designs leave you torn somewhere between dread, laughter, and a curiosity to more know about this surreal world and its strange and irresistible inhabitants.

Ryurakudo – from Kishiwada in the Osaka Prefecture of Japan – has been deeply influenced by the culture and artwork of the country. Ryurakudo considers the famous Japanese painter, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a true inspiration and a “novelty” in the art world. The iconic Japanese painter is known for the ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and, even today, countless artists still look to him and his legacy for inspiration and insight. Ryurakudo would have loved the opportunity to study with the famous Japanese artist in real life.

Ryurakudo admits that the creative process is often a solo one and they prefer to work “by myself.” Nevertheless, they confess, “I can’t live without music” and insists that music is always playing in the background. Ryurakudo shares that they only felt like a true artist after they sold their first piece of art, yet now they cannot imagine themselves in any other way.