Meet London-based illustrator, animator and curator Joey Yu

Joey Yu describes herself as a “London-based illustrator, animator and curator”. “Boundaries and between disciplines is something I disagree with hugely — the idea of 2017 as the year of a multidisciplinary designer sounds really good to me," the Kingston illustration and animation student tell us.

When we came across Joey’s work online we were quickly hooked by her easy observational sketches which appear at once laid back yet considered. “These images are part of an ongoing series of reportage drawings that are pushed by the ideas of perspective and looking,” Joey says of the images below. “I am captivated by the contrast of interior and exterior, and how the two contest against each other. I think because I’m always looking out of the window wishing I was outside… I’m super inspired by plein air artists, and how being in an environment for an extended amount of time can fully influence the way you draw. I also love how sketchbook work can often look better than a final product — more expressive, more mistakes.”

Recently, Joey’s work has recently been featured in the pages of two independent magazines, Sukeban, “which champions Asian artists,” and Hard Ears, a hard-cover fashion mag that pushes new-gen designers. “I’m proud that my work is the only illustrative piece in such a large body of fashion photography!” Says the illustrator. As for 2017, Joey says: “I am currently creating a fashion and print collection inspired by the Hong Kong new wave that will discuss the Chinese aesthetic. It will also culminate in a show and performance piece. This work, and others, will be shown in a group exhibition show in June called More, which will be a conceptually driven show about how illustrators and animators can be, and will be so much More. It’s going to be very exciting, stay tuned!”