Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimizu

Award winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City and instructor at School of Visual Arts.

Criterion announces the ultimate Godzilla box set

Criterion Collection just announced their 1000th release, 15 movie big box set of Gozilla Showa Era  films, 1954–1975. 15 illustrators created each separate title, and I was lucky enough to make the front and back jackets, as well as big spread, and one other interior images, total of 4 illustrations for this project.
“all the Godzilla films from Japan’s Showa era: 15 kaiju rampages, presented in high-definition digital transfers and accompanied by a slew of supplemental material, including a giant deluxe hardcover book with notes on each film and new illustrations from 16 artists, new and archival interviews with cast and crew members, and much, much more.”

The box set will be released on October 29. They are taking pre-orders. 

LIMITED to 20: T-shirt to help Japan Center of Bogota, available in the USA

UPDATE: SOLD OUT. Wow, that was fast. It went in about an hour. Thank you so much for your kind support.
I’m helping out (in a small way) Japan Center of Bogota, Colombia, who invited me to give a workshop last fall in Universidad de Los Andes, as well a team of young filmmakers of  who are making a beautiful video BUNKA promoting the center.

They have decided to create a T-shirts to help fund the project. Most of the shirts will be available in Colombia, but they have made 20 shirt available in the US. You can make a purchase through my shop while supplies lasts.
Unixes M only, we ship to US address only. Thank you for understanding.

Please read the statement from the film collective below:

Bunka is the Japanese world for culture and the name of the first art-film video by our film collective.   It is a cinematic exploration of 5 japanese arts: Chanoyu, Ikebana, Kendo, Shodo and Taiko. This short-film was conceived with the idea of supporting the recently opened Japan Center in Bogotá, which offers free activities for the public while.

This limited series of shirts were made in order to support the video project, thanks to the Donation of Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu.

By purchasing this t-shirt you will be supporting the video production and part of the planning and production of an art exhibition to be held on the second semester of 2019 (Date TBD). You will be credited both in the video and the exhibition and we will be forever grateful. 

So far the project has been possible, thanks to the voluntary collaboration of several talented artist and some private donations, however we are far from achieving the total amount required to cover whole the productions expenses.


just got nominated for HUGO AWARD!

I just got nominated for Hugo Award. Holy craaap, can this be real? I am very very honored. Hard to put this into words. I grew up as a biggest sci-fi fantasy nerd, started my interest in illustration because of my love for Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo, when I was around 12 or 13. I will have all their monographs, first editions, in my parents’ house.
Since that time, I have branched out into different genres in illustration, but HUGO is a name I associate with those of my heroes, whom I think of as… GODS. And it’s just… I don’t even know how to process this news.
Thank you for those who were kind enough to throw my name into the hat. And congratulations to all the nominees.

workshop in Bogotá, Colombia in October

UPDATE (Sept.7): The workshop is now sold out. Thank you and see you in October.

Just announced! I will be coming back to Bogota, Colombia for an illustration workshop. October 18-20, 2018. the event is organized by Los Andes University’s new Japan Center. The course is limited to 18 participants, first come first served bases. Registration is now open with early bird special rate. Hope to see you there. More information and register here. 

There will also be outdoor exhibit starting September on the university campus. (For more details, please see the image)

Voy a volver a Bogotá, Colombia para dictar nuevamente un taller de ilustración. Será del 18 al 20 de Octubre de 2018. El evento está organizado por la Universidad de los Andes, Centro del Japón. El taller es sólo para 18 personas así que inscríbanse pronto antes de que se acaben los cupos. Las inscripciones ya están abiertas. ¡Espero verlos allí! Para más información haga clic aqui

illustration group show KRĒM in Detroit opens during ICON

A group show of illustrators’ original art opens in Detroit, during ICON Illustration Conference.
The show is curated by local illustrator Stephen W. Schudlich, and participating artists include: Gary Baseman, Roz Chast, Sue Coe, Anita Kunz among many others. I will be showing one of the original black and white drawings from Folio Society’s Japanese Tales book.

The show is up till September 8, 2018 in The Scarab Club (217 Farnsworth St, Detroit, MI 48202). Reception will be held on Friday, July 13, from 5-8PM.
Please read more details here.

38th annual Original Art children’s book art competition now accepting entries

Attention kids book artists and publishers, the Society of Illustrators just announced call for entries for their annual children’s book illustration competition Original Art. I am invited to judge this year’s show, along with other members of the jury.
All the entries must be published in the US market in 2017 or 2018, and deadline is July 20, 2018
For all the details on eligibility, how to enter, etc, please go to the Society of Illustrators call for entries page. 

Really looking forward to seeing your books during the judging this summer.

call for entries illustration: On a Magical Do-Nothing Day. Written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna. Published by HarperCollins Publishers. Gold Medal winner, The Original Art 2017

World Cup themed art exhibit opens in Moscow

As this year’s World Cup opens in Russia, football themed group show opened in Moscow. I am invited to be a part of Ball in Art, with huge blown up lightbox of two of Diego Maradona’s most famous and infamous goals from 1986 World Cup. 
The images were originally created for soccer magazine 8 by 8.

“Works by renowned contemporary artists paying tribute to soccer have been brought together in the Ball in Art exhibition, which was inaugurated here Wednesday on the eve of the 2018 World Cup kick-off in the Russian capital.

The exhibition at Zariadie park, near the Kremlin, brings together more than 60 works from 20 different artists, including pioneering Spanish video artist Antoni Muntadas.

Three videos created by Muntadas are projected in a separate room in the 560-sq.-mt. (6,028 sq. ft.) facility that houses the exhibition.

Ball in Art also brings together works by other renowned artists such as Dario Escobar, from Guatemala, Marcos Marin, from Brazil, and Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu, whose works pay tribute to the extraordinary goals scored by Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
A light and sound concert by German artist Karsten Winkels will also be presented in Moscow during the World Cup.

The Ball in Art exhibition will be open to the public until July 23.”

GO WEST! exhibition of American Illustration opens in Vienna, Austria

I will be taking a part in this exciting show of illustrators who are based in the USA.
The exhibit is organized by Design Austria and curated by illustrator Peter Diamond who is a friend and also a former student of a workshop from about ten years ago. The poster image is also created by Peter. He is originally from Canada, and currently based in Vienna.

Prints of my exhibited works (three shown below the poster image), as well as many of the participants’ will be for sale, and they are priced relatively affordably, with trusted great quality. (I know the team who’s behind the printing of works.)

GO WEST! is at Designforum Wien in the famous Museums Quartier (Museumsplatz I/Hof7, Wien)
The show opens on June 19, and be up till September 9, 2018.
Press release of the show can be read here (in German).


on Japanese TV

I have totally spaced out and not announced it beforehand, but I was on a new Japanese TV show 世界の村のどエラいさん (Fuji Television network) on Monday night (Japan time). It is a show feature Japanese people who are doing interesting things abroad. There is a short segment and interview on me of about 5 minutes during this 1 hour program.
The show has already aired. But if you are in Japan, please keep your eye open for the reruns.

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