Born in Tokyo, Mael (Yuko Nohara) became a successful professional illustrator in the 1990’s.
With her expansive knowledge of the subculture themes in comic books, animation and music, the popularity of her work has lead to commissions from many prominent clients such as Sony, Shiseido, Atlantic Records, Clarins, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing, Itochu and NEC.
Her work has been seen in magazine editorials, PR, advertisement media and digital content packages.
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While she enjoyed success as a commercial illustrator, she also expanded her world into original comic books that garnered tremendous popularity among Japanese fans.
She moved to the United States in 2001, and has been continuously publishing her works via Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Game conventions in North America.
She is also working as a visual artist representing her own firm that specializes in web design and on-line marketing.
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The work of Mael is bold in the style derived from Chinese Calligraphy with dynamic strokes and monochromatic themes, accentuated by extremely colorful arrangements inspired by the work of renowned illustrator, Antonio Lopez (1943-1987). Her art leads the audience deep into her world with a lasting impact – it tells you a story, it pulls you into the depth of the characters that are not just passing by.
It evokes and wakes something in the mind of the audience and leaves footprints. The stories told in the form of Mael’s artwork will lead the viewers to feel something else – another story teller, that’s who she is.
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You will find ‘something’ in her work that moves you.
