the class-o-matic

Traversing the world between art and design, Tadanori Yokoo's work has a very personal nature and often reflects his own interests. He began working as a designer during the late 1960's and his work often resembles a collage style that was quite the opposite of the modernist, swiss graphic movement. 

Interested in mysticism, psychedelia and the Indian culture, his work is often associated with the 1960s pop culture. He has repeated several motifs throughout his work including the rising sun and waterfalls. In 1998 a large scale exhibition of his posters was held in Japan, the 40,000 people that crowded the exhibition during its thirteen-day event were a testament to his enduring popularity. In 1981 he unexpectedly "retired" from commercial work and took up painting after seeing a Picasso retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (New York). His career as a fine artist continues to this day with numerous exhibitions of his paintings every year, but alongside this he remains fully engaged and prolific as a graphic designer.