“I became more enamoured with the face as I drew it more often. Then I ended up only drawing this face.”
A masterclass in mischief
Face Oka translates the world around him into a distinct, comical style. He borrows figures from adverts and cartoons, giving each a solid black outline. Sometimes people are reduced to graphic shapes and colours, while others are painted more realistically. Regardless, everyone is given Oka’s signature smiley face, either the right or wrong way up. Although his work appears digital, he actually paints with acrylic on canvas. Citing manga as an early influence, his comic book style is reminiscent of Pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein, and later Keith Haring. Graffiti and skate culture have a cl...
Bio
Face Oka was born in 1984 in Tokyo, Japan, where he continues to live and work.
Did you know?
Face Oka used to draw people’s portraits at events and music festivals. This helped him to hone his style, simplifying faces down to the bare essentials.
Collaborations
He has illustrated for an array of brands and magazines. These include Disney, Adidas, BEAMS, GOODHOOD, Sneeze Magazine and Richardson Magazine.
