Aiko Fukuda is a Japanese visual artist based in Antwerp, Belgium. After graduating from Bridgewater State University in the USA with a degree in Graphic Design, she returned to Japan to begin her professional journey. She started her career as an in-house Graphic Designer for luxury concept stores and as an Art Director in the tech industry, before establishing herself as a freelance illustrator in 2014.

A significant turning point in her life occurred during the economic uncertainty following the 2008 financial crisis. While searching for her first professional role, Aiko was struck by the exceptional draftsmanship of traditional Japanese art school graduates. This realization of her own technical gaps became a powerful catalyst for growth. For the next ten years, she dedicated herself to a drawing academy, balancing her studies with a demanding corporate career. In the midst of a hectic professional life, the studio became her sanctuary of creative freedom where she could freely experiment, explore, and express her truest visions. This long-term discipline is what defines the intricate and refined technique seen in her work today.

Aiko’s creation is deeply rooted in her childhood. She often reimagined clothing passed down from her mother and sister. By wearing a shirt upside down or altering shapes, she discovered the joy of deconstruction and reconstruction. This early playfulness evolved into a deep appreciation for timeless beauty and a perspective that remains free from conventional norms. Her visual language reflects a unique cultural duality, blending the quiet, serene aesthetics of Japan with the vibrant pop colors she embraced during her years in the United States.

Her flexible approach to creation is consistently reflected in her creative process. Aiko seamlessly integrates delicate analog expressions using colored pencils with modern digital innovation. Her recent work explores new possibilities for the medium, from the AR VIRTUAL GARDEN project to transforming flat illustrations into three-dimensional structures. Her true strength lies in her ability to maintain a consistent brand identity across any platform, whether it is a textile illustration, prestige packaging for the brands, or immersive window displays that define a space.

What makes Aiko’s work unique is her ability to nurture a single idea into a complete universe. She doesn't just create an illustration; she expands it across every medium from luxury packaging and textiles to shop windows and immersive AR experiences. She ensures the brand’s soul remains constant, no matter where it appears.　　

In 2019, Aiko became the first Japanese woman selected for the Adobe Creative Residency. Her international career has since included solo exhibitions in New York, and roles as a guest lecturer at Fitchburg State University and art academies in Japan. She has also been invited to share her insights at major creative events, including Adobe MAX and Apple’s "Today at Apple" sessions. Now based in the heart of Antwerp’s artistic community, she continues to expand her vision as a global artist.

AWARD

2018　Nominated for Gmund Award, Germany

2017　Winner for Make it on Mobile by Adobe, USA

2014　Winner for Loftwork Award, Japan

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

2022　ANB Studio Program, Tokyo, Japan

2019　Adobe Creative Residency, San Francisco, USA

EXHIBITION

2027　Upcoming ***Full details to be announced soon***

2026　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Year of the Horse", Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan

2023　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Hand Made Market", A-Gent Gallery

2022　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Epilogue ⇄ Prologue Platform 29.8", ANB Gallery

2022　Tokyo, Group exhibition "ANB Open Studio Vol.4", ANB Gallery

2019　Tokyo, Adobe MAX JAPAN Installation "Wonder Chamber", Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center

2019　New York, Charity Auction "Art for Tibet", Gallery 8 NYC

2019　Los Angeles, Adobe MAX LA Solo Installation "Drawn Room", Los Angeles Convention Center

2019　Tokyo, Live Art "Today at Apple x The Big Draw", Apple Marunouchi

2019　New York, Group Exhibition "55Kids Day" by Copelus, SBC Art Gallery Brooklyn

2019　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Year of the Boar" by NiyaNiya Studio, Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan

2018　Tokyo, Collaboration Exhibition "Aiko Fukuda x Urban Research", Omotesando Hills

2018　New York, Solo Exhibition "Shape of Love", SBC Art Gallery Brooklyn

2017　Tokyo, Solo Exhibition "Cabinet of Curiosities" sponsored by Faber-Castell, Tokyo Midtown

2017　Tokyo, Live Art "Today at Apple", Apple Ginza

2017　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Karuta Ichi", Winged Wheel Aoyama Showroom

2017　Tokyo, Solo Exhibition "New Standard Legacy", Clothier Shibuya

2017　Tokyo, Solo Exhibition "Fashion Laboratory", L'illustre Galerie LE MONDE

2016　Tokyo, Group Exhibition Fashion Trade Show "Rooms", National Yoyogi Studium

2016　Tokyo, Collaboration Exhibition "Pas de Trois Dans le Salon" by repetto, Burnish Salon

2016　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Atelie Ebi Omo", Meguro Museum of Art

2015　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Love Drawing Vol.1", L'illustre Galerie LE MONDE

2014　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Present Graphic Expression", Recto Verso Gallery

2012　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Act Art Award 2012", The Art Complex Center of Tokyo

2012　Tokyo, Charity Exhibition "Thumbhole", Hiroshige Gallery

2011　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Atelier Omo3 Kawashima Dojo", Hiroshige Gallery, Tokyo

2010　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Chiyoda Art 3331 Independents", 3331 Arts Chiyoda

2010　Tokyo, Group Exhibition "Atelier Ebi Omo", Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo