Yukiko Adachi is a local illustrator creating whimsical pieces with unmistakable authenticity. Her Instagram showcases this, documenting her life from pregnancy in the midst of a global lockdown to a first-time pandemic parent to a mother of two. This series connects many parents feeling lost at sea but most of all display Yukiko’s ability to eloquently distill complex feelings.
Born in Ashiya Japan, Yukiko moved frequently during childhood, living in Malaysia, India, Taiwan, and Thailand with her family. She gained her BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, eventually settling here in Vancouver. Her life abroad is evident in her work as culture is no barrier in relating to the emotions behind each piece.
Yukiko’s art extends beyond her Instagram series including her day job as an in-house graphic designer, participation in live-painting competitions, and occasional work as a live caricature artist. Her style is instantly recognizable, and self-described as: “heavily influenced by manga and pop culture.” Her go-to media are ink and coloured pencils on toned craft paper.
If Yukiko does have a spare moment, you might find her sipping perfectly hot tea or catching up with friends. Most likely though, you will find her sketching her latest idea, fine-tuning another personal moment that is deeply meaningful – to many of us.
-Written by Jen Okhiria, friend & fellow pandemic first-time mom
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Which ’hood are you in?
I have been living in Mount Pleasant, near Dude Chilling Park, for about 8 years with my partner, two daughters, and a senior Singapura cat (who still looks like a kitten!). It’s my favourite area of the city because it’s so walkable — there are so many beautiful murals and individuality in the shops around here. It’s nice to be minutes away from the water, and able to hop on a bus to go to any part of the city.
What do you do?
I call myself a non-fiction illustrator. I document my daily moments through drawings. It’s my way to immortalize sweet moments and process difficult ones. I have done this even before having kids but it has been especially helpful in my transition to parenthood. As you can see in the photos above, it’s not the most glamorous life! But, being able to connect with people around the world saying “I relate to this” has made me feel less alone in this journey which can often be quite isolating.
What are you currently working on?
I am just wrapping up my 18-month maternity leave, getting ready to head back into my day job as an in-house graphic designer.
As always, I capture day-to-day moments in my drawings with any free time and energy I am able to conjure up.
I have also been getting back into life drawing at Basic Inquiry Studio to brush up on my skills. It’s like going to the gym but for drawing! I love the energy of a studio filled with focused artists.
I am also working on some pieces for the next STICKY show, a post-it art show curated by the aforementioned One More Life Gallery.
Where can we find your work?
The best place to find and connect with me is on Instagram! You can see my latest drawings, announcements for any events, and mundane snapshots of my life in the Stories.
