Artist Talk: Illustrating Acky Bright’s Studio Infinity

Meet Japanese illustrator Acky Bright for a rare talk and signing in celebration of the closing weekend of his exhibition Acky Bright: Studio Infinity (October 4, 2024—January 19, 2025) at the Japan Society Gallery. All event tickets include gallery admission.

Japan Society is honored to welcome illustrator, designer and manga artist Acky Bright in person. Known across Japan and the U.S. for his kawakakkoii (cute and cool) characters and collaborations with music groups YOASOBI, ASTERISM and Perfume and brands including McDonald’s, Hasbro, DC Comics, BMW, Meta and Netflix, he has created a passionate following that crosses between high art and pop art. 

Over the past several months, Japan Society Gallery has organized Acky Bright’s first solo exhibition in New York, bringing his cutting-edge illustrations to our century-old institution. The exhibition’s centerpiece is an original mural drawn directly on our gallery’s walls, which Acky Bright has added to throughout the exhibition’s run. Now, on the eve of the exhibition’s closing, the mural is complete, and Japan Society welcomes Acky back for a conversation about his inspirations, philosophies, collaborations, career, success and further dreams. During his talk, Acky will create an original illustration in front of our audience, and afterward he’ll greet audiences and sign copies of his B/W artwork, posters and other exhibition merchandise.

Autographs and Book Sales
Attendees will be able to purchase Acky Bright: Studio Infinity exhibition merchandise and copies of Acky Bright’s B/W artbook at the event or bring books from home for the signing session following the talk.

All event tickets include gallery admission. The Acky Bright: Studio Infinity exhibition ends on January 19.

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Photos © Daphne Youree.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support for cultural programs is provided by an anonymous donor and the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.

Exhibitions and Arts & Culture Lecture Programs are made possible, in part, by Sompo Holdings, Inc.; the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund; the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation; The Masako Mera and Koichi Mera, PhD Fund for Education and the Arts; Yasko Tashiro and Thierry Porté; Peggy and Dick Danziger; Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka; Barbara Bertozzi Castelli; and Gallery Circle members. Support for Arts & Culture Lecture Programs is provided, in part, by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor for Japan Society gallery exhibitions.