YOU decide!

One of the hottest rising stars in the art world is letting her fans decide which of her works will grace some new products she's creating. You're not going to find this inter-activity between fan and artist in the "high art" world. The closeness between collectors and artists is one of the most exciting things about the Modern Pop art world, and Yumiko Kayukawa is taking the idea to the next level.

Ms. Kayukawa is one of the belles of the Pop Surrealism world these days, and it's not hard to see why. Her sensual pieces are something of a 21st century take on the candy-colored 80s pop icons of Patrick Nagel (you remember Nagel, don't you? Covers of Duran Duran albums, poster-child of Miami Vice 80s excess... Not surprising that Ms. Kayukawa's work reminds us of that style, since she herself says that "I'd rather my paintings hang next to rock star pin-ups than on museum walls. Ultimately I want to connect with people all over the world on that level." Ms. Kayukawa, a native of Sapporo, Japan who now lives in Seattle, has been doing a number of solo and group shows in the U.S. recently, and right now she's asking her fans to help her choose which paintings she will use to grace a number of products that will be sold online. Send an email to gabriela@sweetyumiko.com to let her know. Democracy in action! (Paint the vote?)



Yumiko Kayukawa - www.sweetyumiko.com