Yoko Honda’s Illustrations are a Blast to the Neon-Drenched Past

Flashy motels, swimming pools, Memphis prints and palm trees; Japanese artist Yoko Honda’s illustrations perfectly channel the neon-kitsch aesthetics of the 80’s.

Flashy motels, swimming pools, Memphis prints and palm trees;  Japanese artist Yoko Honda’s illustrations perfectly channel the neon-kitsch aesthetics of the 80’s, with an incredible amount of detail and imagination. Using a mixed-media approach combining digital painting and print, Honda constructs punchy landscapes and interiors that pay homage to Miami’s age of excess, transporting us for a moment to what she calls “the place of the dream.” Having lived through this era herself as a teenager, she reinterprets elements absorbed from movies, TV shows, art, and pop culture, bringing them to life with her signature style and color-palette.

To inspire her creativity and tap into her nostalgic memories of retro, Honda works while listening to a range of music from New Wave to 80’s classics. She draws on her strong background as a painter and graffiti artist, using Photoshop to tweak her designs, amplify the colours and introduce the sensual aesthetics that set the mood for her compositions.

Honda’s career was propelled when images of her graffiti began gaining traction on Instagram. After collaborating with Australian skate company Afends to design a line of swimwear, the commissions started rolling in and have since kept the self-taught artist busy, fuelled by new opportunities. She has also recently released a litho-printed book entitled “Summer Love,” which explores an fictional pastel town complete with strip clubs, pool parties and giant bananas.

Needless to say, we’re huge fans of Yoko Honda’s fun, fresh and surreal perspective. Stay up to date on her latest projects on her Instagram account. Happy browsing!

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Yoko Honda’s Illustrations are a Blast to the Neon-Drenched Past
Yoko Honda’s Illustrations are a Blast to the Neon-Drenched Past
Yoko Honda’s Illustrations are a Blast to the Neon-Drenched Past