In “Princess,” a little girl with a sly expression and a red background imprint a lasting image on the mind. This piece of art is a good example of the fun style of Marty Ito, one that never bores an audience.
Instead of the commercial design world, Marty creates and sells original artwork, which has gained him many admiring fans around the globe.
Originally from Sapporo, he worked for an advertising agency as a production director after graduating from design school. When a client decided to use a design that he created, he in turn decided to become an artist. He was 27.
Illustration, computer graphics, animation, toys; his medium of art knows no bounds, yet everything he creates can easily be identified as his.
For 20 years he has continued to go abroad for art shows. “My first experience with art galleries was in Canada. I spoke no English and knew nothing about the art business. I just took my work and knocked on the doors of galleries,” he says.
He has a strong network with artists and galleries in Los Angeles, where his style and active career have gained him his nickname, “Paint Monster.”
When he began to be recognized in the art community, the Hello Kitty 35th anniversary show, “Three Apples” contacted him to create works of Hello Kitty art. A sculpture and painting were both displayed at a gallery in Los Angeles.
