Lady Aiko
Biography
Lady Aiko, born Aiko Nakagawa in 1975 in Tokyo, Japan, is a prominent street artist currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She began her artistic career in the mid-1990s after moving to New York City, where she apprenticed under Takashi Murakami in his Brooklyn studio. In the late 1990s, she co-founded the art collective FAILE before embarking on a solo career in 2006.
Aiko's work is renowned for blending Western art movements with Eastern artistic techniques, drawing inspiration from 18th-century Japanese woodblock printing. Her creations often feature motifs such as bunnies, butterflies, and romantic lovers, rendered through a bricolage of spray paint, stencilling, brushwork, collage, and serigraphy. Her large-scale murals have been installed in cities worldwide, including Rome, Shanghai, and Brooklyn. Notably, she has collaborated with artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey, further cementing her influence in the street art scene.
Aiko's artworks are held in several notable art institutions and private collections, reflecting her recognition within the art market. She has participated in prestigious exhibitions and projects, such as the Bowery Wall in New York City and collaborations with brands like Louis Vuitton. Her works are actively traded, indicating a strong and liquid market presence.