Mogu Takahashi’s naive illustrations and paintings are only seemingly simple. Reminding us of a child’s doodle, her artwork adorns anything from textiles, ceramics, and wallpapers to mobile phone covers – proving that the market for cute illustrations is out there.
But her artistic career bore fruit by a sort of chance. “One day a gallery owner dropped by and asked me, ‘Are you interested in exhibiting your work?’” she told the Donna Wilson blog. “He invited me to a group exhibition in New York! That happened when I was twenty years old… I think I will keep drawing as long as possible, even when I get older.”
Focusing mainly on flora and fauna, Takahashi says she enjoys drawing animals and nature because of their unique shapes and colors. Her artwork is inspired by her every day strolls, but also by her inclination to daydream. “I like daydreaming in my head,” she admits. “‘If I gave a hat to a rabbit, what kind of hat would that be?’ ‘If this turtle could talk, what would he want to tell me?’ It’s a bit weird, but I think these things are part of what creates my style. Oh, and I dream every night too. I sometimes take inspiration from their stories and the color contrasts.”
Follow her Instagram for a pop of quirkiness.
