2024 | Longlist + Shortlist | Site Specific
- Why did you create this work?
I had the pleasure of illustrating 3 huge and multi-layered window displays and in-store pop-up elements, commissioned by Selfridges London in January 2023.
The brief was to illustrate real places inside the store abstractly and playfully, with a focus on representing diversity, a variety of shapes, sizes, and personalities. - How were your illustrations used?
My illustrations were used for 3 different L5xH2.5xW2m show windows facing Oxford Street in London. Each display was made up of up to 8 layers, that stood up individually and were designed to showcase different products that can be bought in the store. Additionally, I created pop-up elements and 9m long paper garments on floor 2. The installations were up for 3 months (January - March 2023). - What materials and techniques did you use?
I mostly worked with pencil for all of the illustrations as I wanted to preserve a hand-made feel, paper texture, and wobbly lines. Rather than working with vectors, I used high-res scanners, and digital techniques to turn a series of A3 drawings on paper into these 5m wide and multilayered window displays. I had a production team to help me with printing and assembly. - Was this project commissioned?
Commissioned - Commissioner Name
Selfridges London - Commissioner Company
Selfridges London - Commissioner Instagram
instagram.com/theofficialselfridges/
- Agent
Grand Matter - Agent Instagram
instagram.com/grandmatter_/
- College / University
Camberwell College of Arts/ University of the Arts London - Course and graduation date
BA Illustration, 2020 - Personal Website or Portfolio Link
lena-yokoyama.com/
- Instagram
instagram.com/lena_yokoyama/
- Biography
Lena Yokoyama is a Japanese/Austrian illustrator and printmaker based in London. Lena’s work highlights diversity in a playful and colourful way inspired by her own experience of growing up in a multicultural environment. Her artworks feature a variety of characters and curious personalities that emerge from a process of combining incidental shapes with considered lines, colour, and texture. - Where are you currently based?
United Kingdom (UK)