Aiko

"My new print edition is titled Emotions for International Women's Day. This is my third collaboration with 1xRUN; we have been examining the broad influence of street art with a unique blend of stencils, spray paint, and silkscreen. The girls and bunny are my favorite characters to paint in little alleyway spots and in my giant murals. My pieces examine everyday emotions in public spaces, such as happy, sexy, mad, sad, pleased...

"Between men and women, we have been arguing about equality for long time and things are maybe much more comfortable now, plus new generations seem like they are having better ideas. The topic has much changed since our grandparents' time or even before. Yet, women and minorities are still facing obstacles we must help resolve: education, job opportunities, health. I hope the chance for fair living is given to everyone and everyone can seize the day." - AIKO

AIKO is one of the most influential contemporary street artists over the last 20 years. Her iconic and famous pieces can be found in cities around the globe. AIKO’s style, which blends Japanese and West qualities with a feminine approach is beloved and respected worldwide. AIKO was born and raised in Tokyo before moving to New York City. She collaborated with Banksy on “Exit Through the Gift Shop” in 2010. In 2012, she was, as the first woman, to create a mural on the legendary Bowery Wall curated by Jefferey Deitch, where Kieth Haring was the first artist to paint on in 1982. Louis Vuitton assigned her to be the third Japanese collaborator after Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama in 2013.

Her art career in New York began when she started working for Takashi Murakami. She apprenticed in Murakami’s studio in Brooklyn and worked for him until the late 90′s going on to a direct a digital biography on the artist “Superflat” in 1998. AIKO continued to practice her own art and after leaving Murakami’s studio graduated from The New School where she finished her MFA Media Studies and later met up with two American artists, the three of them would come to establish the group now known as FAILE. Creating work within the collective locally and abroad for a number of years, she moved on and established herself as Lady AIKO in 2006. AIKO held solo exhibitions "Lady Go" at Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum in 2018, she has been part of numerous shows such as "The Beyond The Street" curated by Roger Gastman, Los Angeles in 2018 and New York in 2019, “Edo Pop” at The Japan Society, New York in 2013, “Animamix Biennale” at Shanghai’s MoCA in 2009.

Not only former first lady Michelle Obama, she has been commissioned to create works by many brands including Fendi, Estée Lauder, Warner Brothers, Reebok, Apple, Microsoft, Pepsi and venues such as W Hotels and The Standard.