about
Yoko Tanaka is a Japan-born artist based in Barcelona, known for surreal, emotionally rich paintings and illustrations. Her haunting acrylic works depict human-animal hybrids in somber, dreamlike settings, blurring the line between species. Themes include introspection, human-animal connection, and quiet melancholy.
Tanaka studied law before pursuing art in Los Angeles and later moved to Bangkok, London, then Barcelona. Her work spans fine art and children’s books, often using muted tones and symbolic storytelling.
Notable illustrated titles include The Magician’s Elephant, Sparrow Girl, and her own Dandelion’s Dream, a wordless book praised for its emotional depth. Dandelion’s Dream was chosen for Kate Greenaway Medal Longlist 2021, Kirkus' Best Books of 2020, The Boston Globe’ Best Books of 2020.
For Kirkus review, click here
For School Library Journal review, click here
For The New York Times review, click here
For The Boston Globe review, click here
shows
Nov 2012 Auguste Clown gallery group show, Melbourne, AU
http//www.augusteclown.com
Oct 2011 La Luz de Jesus gallery “La Luz de Jesus 25” group show, Los Angeles, CA
http://laluzdejesus.com/
May 2011 Mondo Bizzarro Gallery “The New Lost Generation” group show, Rome, Italy
http://www.mondobizzarrogallery.com
May 2011 CAFEAND gallery “Animators VS Earthquakes” group show, London UK
http://www.animatorsvsearthquakes.blogspot.com
Jul 2009 Ann Nathan gallery “Circle and Oval” show, Chicago, IL
http://www.annnathangallery.com/
Nov 2009 David B Smith Gallery 3 person show, Denver, CO
http://www.davidbsmithgallery.com/
Oct 2009 Mondo Bizzarro Gallery “NATURAL BEAUTY Pop Surrealism from USA” Group show, Rome, Italy
http://www.mondobizzarro.net/gallery/index.php
Mar 2008 Billy Shire Fine Arts 3 person show, Los Angeles, CA
http://www.billyshirefinearts.com/
Feb 2008 Limited Addiction Gallery " Anniversary group Show, Denver, CO
http://www.limitedaddictiongallery.com
Apr 2007 Bologna Book Fair Bologna, Italy
Mar 2007 Hemphill Fine Arts “TUG OF WAR” group show, Washington D.C.
http://www.hemphillfinearts.com/
Sep 2006 Billy Shire Fine Arts “Young Blood” group show, Los Angeles, CA
http://www.billyshirefinearts.com/
Aug 2006 Renowned Gallery "New Expressions in Fine Art Printmaking" group show, Portland, OR
Jan 2006 "Drawn to Expression" group show, Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA Feb 12 ~ Apr 23 www.artcenter.edu/williamson
Dec 2005 Ann Nathan Gallery "Thoughts" show, Chicago, IL
http://www.annnathangallery.com/
Dec 2005 Santa Ana College Retrospective Show, Santa Ana, CA
http://ext.sac.edu/academic_progs/art/events/#Santora
Nov 2005 "Narration and Marketing: Contemporary Illustration National Group Exhibition" at Bradley University, Peoria, IL Nov 3 - Dec 3
http://slane.bradley.edu/art/exhibition_04-05.html
Apr 2005 "SI - LA, Illustration West 43 Show" at Froden Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
http://www.frodengallery.org/
Mar 2005 "The Bird House Show" at The Drawing Club, Los Angeles, CA
http://www.thedrawingclub.com/
Mar 2005 SYM-BOOK-SIS Project Show Tokyo, Japan
http://www.nadiff.com/
Jan 2005 Ann Nathan Gallery group show Chicago, IL
http://www.annnathangallery.com/
May 2004 Art Chicago Chicago, IL
Apr 2004 Bologna Book Fair Bologna, Italy
Mar 2004 Motel Gallery group show Portland, OR
Feb 2004 Society of Illustrators 46th Annual Exhibition New York, NY
Dec 2003 Ann Nathan Gallery group show Chicago, IL
Jan 2003 GlobeART Gallery group show Rouen, France
publication
Feb 2020 "Dandelion’s Dream"
Candlewick Press, MA, Walker Books, London, UK,
Feb 2017 "Princessland" by Emily Jenkins
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, NY
Mar 2014 “STEW” magazine cover, London UK
Jan 2014 “Ohelia and the Marvelous Boy” by Karen Foxlee
Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House), NY
Sep 2013 “The Witch’s Curse” by Keith McGowan
Henry Holt and Company, NY
Aug 2013 “Tiny Pencil” magazine first issue, London UK
Aug 2013 “Blanket & Bear, a Remarkable Pair” by L.J.R. Kelly
Putnam Juvenile (Penguin), NY
Apr 2013 “Tiny Pencil” magazine first issue, London UK
Oct 2012 "Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh" by R. L. LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, MA
Mar 2012 Svensk Bokhande magazine cover, Stockholm Sweden
Aug 2011 “One Moon, Two Cats” by Laura Godwin
Atheneum Books for young Readers (Simon and Schuster) NY
Apr 2011 "Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus" by R. L. LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, MA
Mar 2011 “Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest” by Amos Oz
Houton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA
Sep 2009 “The Magician’s Elephant” by Kate DiCamillo,
Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA
Sep 2009 “The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children” by Keith McGowan
Henry Holt and Company, NY
Feb 2009 "Sparrow Girl" Book Illustration, by Sara Pennypacker
Hyperion Books for Children, NY
Aug 2008 "Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos" by R. L. LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, MA
Jul 2007 "dpi” magazine, interview Taipei, Taiwan
Jun 2007 "Venus Magazine”, interview
Mar 2007 "Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos" by R. L. LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, MA
Mar 2007 "The Curvy Book" from "Yen" Magazine, interview Australia
Jul 2006 Los Angeles Times Newspaper, editorial illustration
Jun 2006 "Flight 3" Magazine, Random House, Inc.
Sep 2005 "Neomu Magazine" Australia
Aug 2005 Los Angeles Times Newspaper, editorial illustration
Oct 2004 Wine & Spirits Magazine, editorial illustrations New York, NY
awards
Apr 2014 3x3 Magazine annual
Apr 2013 SCBWI annual illustration showcase
Apr 2009 3x3 Magazine annual
Apr 2007 Bologna Book Fair, Italy
Sep 2004 The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Illustration West 43 Gold Award in the Student Category
Jul 2004 Communication Arts, Illustration Annual
Jun 2004 Applied Arts Magazine, Canada
Apr 2004 Bologna Book Fair, Italy
Dec 2003 New York Society of Illustrators, Sequential Category
Nov 2003 SCWBI Illustration Day, Book Cover Art Contest 1st Place
2002-2004 Art Center College of Design Scholarship (Art Center 100)
Apr 2001 Orange County Fine Arts Scholarship, CA
Apr 2001 Fred and Barbara Meiers Memorial Award
education
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA: BFA in Illustration, with distinction
Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan: BA in Law
contact
For any questions you can contact me here:
yoko@yokotanaka.com
For inquiry for books and projects, please contact my agent:
Steven Malk
smalk@writershouse.com
+1.858.678.8767 (USA)
www.writershouseart.com/yoko-tanaka/