2025.02.14

Artist & Fashion Designer: The Unique Career of "Elegant Thorns" Artist Mayu Yukishita

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Mayu Yukishita, an artist known for her realistic yet somewhat dark illustrations, launched her fashion brand "Esth." in 2020, marking the beginning of her activities as a designer. Although her brand activities were temporarily paused, she plans to relaunch in 2025. What kind of world does she intend to depict in the realms of illustration and fashion? We delved into her thoughts.

PROFILE

Mayu Yukishita

Artist / Fashion Designer

Born on December 6, 1995, a graduate of Tama Art University in Design. She has gained popularity for her unique painting style that retains a distinctive deformation and rough touch, while also being realistic. Her work has attracted significant attention from the publishing and music industries, leading to many collaborative projects.
Her diverse activities include contributions to the 2022 Bookstore Award-winning work "同志少女よ、敵を撃て," the Bookstore Award-nominated work "6人の嘘つきな大学生," TV commercials for Tokyo Mode Gakuen, official merchandise for SUMMERSONIC 2022,
TOKYO CREATIVE SALON (Tokyu Corporation), among other advertisements and book designs.
Additionally, she serves as the designer for the fashion brand "Esth." that she launched in 2020.

The Origin of Her Activities: "Copying"

First, can you tell us what inspired you to start drawing illustrations?

I don’t have a clear moment that sparked my interest; I have liked drawing since I was a child, and I vaguely thought I wanted to pursue a job in art when I was in elementary school.

Initially, I would copy images from animal encyclopedias, but during my elementary to junior high years, I was influenced by the works of manga artist Shou Tajima, and I began to mimic his manga drawings. I started to depict realistic art in a manga style using fewer lines.

Once I entered university, I majored in graphic design while teaching myself sketching and oil painting. Around that time, I began creating works that incorporated both the two-dimensional elements of manga and the realistic aspects of oil painting.