Iñigo Gutierrez’s Calligraphic Illustrations

The brushstrokes are bold, the black ink contrasts sharply with the smoothness of the paper. Iñigo Gutierrez draws inspiration from shodo, Japanese calligraphy, in his poetic illustrations that are reminiscent of the work of Jean Cocteau.

Hailing from Burgos, a small town in Spain, the artist has been living in Tokyo for five years now. He regularly does illustrations for magazines (Elle, Condé Nast Traveler, Esquire Japan) and collaborates with the world of fashion: his prints have been used by the Japanese brand MUVEIL and he created a capsule collection for Zara Man.

From washi paper to wallpaper

Iñigo Gutierrez also prides himself on design. Iñigo Studio, the name of his studio, is behind the coloured wallpaper that hangs on the walls of the coworking space Sloth Jinnan. More recently, the illustrator associated his name with Ikea, a brand for which he brought together antiques and modern furniture.

Nostalgia is at the heart of the artist’s work, as he scatters elements of the past through his work, whether they come from Greek mythology or landscapes of 1950s America. In his free time, Iñigo Gutierrez enjoys browsing second hand bookstores in the Jimbocho district of Tokyo, looking for art books by the old masters that might spark inspiration.

More information about Iñigo Gutierrez’s work can be found on his website and on his Instagram account.