Today we’d like to introduce you to Yohey Horishita.
Hi Yohey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in a southern city called Kagoshima, Japan, which can be the Japanese version of the State of Alabama! My family was a bit different compared to other families because I have a Japanese-born Korean mother and a Japanese father, and we were the only Christian family in our neighborhood or even in the school district. Oh, and I was very queer even back then. The sketchbook was my safe place to explore myself without any fear as a queer kid in South Japan, and I started drawing more and more – I think that was how I grew a stronger desire for visual storytelling.
In 2005, I moved to Jacksonville, Alabama, and have stayed in the U.S. ever since. I could not speak English and did not know anything about the U.S. in terms of its politics, history, and culture. But living in Alabama was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sure, the Deep South was a tough place for a young closeted gaysian (gay+Asian) immigrant; however, I have met many wonderful people beyond our skin colors or political views.
After three years in Alabama, I moved to Atlanta, GA for my BFA and MFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. Then, I started my freelance and teaching career in NYC, dipping and sipping my blessings until I accepted my current position at Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD) in 2021. After two years in Baltimore, I have accepted a position at Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta, GA) and finally moved back to my 2nd home and the best city in the world, Atlanta!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I love what I do as a freelance illustrator and as an art educator, but defining a sense of my unique inner voice was so difficult in my early days. Because I did not grow up in the US, the language barrier was one thing, but it was more than that. Adjusting to the different regional characters this country can offer was challenging as an immigrant, and I’ve learned how fluid the social dynamics can be. This country is broad and more diverse than my hometown or Japan. Since I moved from Japan to Alabama, from Alabama to Atlanta, from ATL to New York City, from NYC to Baltimore, and then back to Atlanta, I have seen so many different characters of cities/states, even though I have only stayed on the East Coast. For example, the Asian immigrant community in Gwinett is drastically different from the ones in Manhattan or Queens, New York—every group is not monolithic. Things kept changing so rapidly, including me, so on some occasions, I did experience some level of identity crisis. What am I as an illustrator? What makes me different from other illustrators? What am I trying to achieve? And really, “What do I really want to do?” Finding my voice wasn’t difficult, but then defining my uniqueness/essence from it was difficult and is still a work in progress.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
“I’m a picture writer.” This is from Eric Carle, an American illustrator and children’s author who wrote the Very Hungry Caterpillar and more. This is exactly what I do as an illustrator. I believe that my job is to write pictures. I see illustration as a visual language to tell stories, and it is my passion to voice the client’s vision in such a remarkable way. My intricate but dynamic illustration holds a clear concept and purpose developed on a rigorous ideation process. It is then constructed on the firm design foundation by solid skillsets in traditional pen-and-ink on paper and digital coloring disciplines. After some ups and downs in my career, I realized how important one’s personal heritage and upbringing are in illustration-making. Illustration is a reflection of who we are, so I hope to bring diverse and unique perspectives to my artwork.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I still listen to the radio… MyPraise 102.5, Jazz WCLK 91.9, WNYC, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: yoheyhorishita.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoheyhorishita/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoheyHorishita
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/YoheyHorishita
- Other: https://yoheyhorishita.bigcartel.com/
Image Credits
Richard Solomon Group, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Domestika, Exclaim, Ink Paper Auteur Cinema Group
