1977 Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
1998 Graduated from Musashino Art University Junior College Department of Stage Design
2008 Obtained the Master of Art with Distiction, School of Arts and Society, Northumbria University, UK
Maiko Kobayashi has created a unique and lovely creature, pale and soft, as if threatened by invisible forces and feeling helpless, but she retains a light of courage and hope in her heart. This creature is like a vessel of the human soul, into which the artist puts delicate emotions and affectional connections with others. In addition to studying characters, the artist also invests a lot of time in the selection of materials and painting skills, constantly breaking through to adapt to richer changes and layers. The artist grew up in Japan’s “ACG” and “Hikikomori” cultural background, the image she created is quite universal. With the deepening of her creation, this image has its own unique “lovely philosophy”, which in turn affects her contemporaries.
Since 2009, Maiko Kobayashi has held nearly 20 solo exhibitions in Europe, China, Japan, South Korea and other places. In recent years, her works have been sought after with remarkable achievements, in the international auction market. Meanwhile, several European and Japanese publishers continue to introduce her works.