おおはしこうじ

Born in Ikeda City, Osaka, he has loved drawing since childhood and has won numerous art competitions. During his four years living in New York in his mid-teens, he developed a vibrant sense of color that is quite distinct from typical Japanese styles. After graduating from Kyoto University, he worked at a major advertising agency. Although he distanced himself from art for a while, in 2017, he began creating original illustrations at the request of his mother, Kanae Ohashi, a world-renowned shadow box artist, and his passion for art was rekindled. His artwork features unique characters, including "Ruki-Bon," a passionate 3-year-old modeled after his second son, and "Prince Manhattan", a teddy bear that has been with him since his time in New York. His work also incorporates distinctive dragons and traditional Japanese motifs, brought to life with bold color divisions, vivid compositions, and intricate storytelling, creating a truly unique world. These original illustrations, enhanced by his mother’s exceptional shadow box techniques, form a rare mother-son collaboration that breathes new life into the art. Their work has received widespread acclaim, not only in Japan but also in Monaco. In 2024, he held a solo exhibition in New York, his second home, which was so well received that the exhibition period was extended. As an unknown artist debuting in New York, this level of success was unprecedented. His dream is to bring "art that brings joy and happiness to everyone" to people all over the world. He greatly admires the works of Katsushika Hokusai. His favorite things: peaches and cats.