Yoshitomo Nara

Published alongside Yoshitomo Nara's 2025 exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, this lavishly illustrated book spans four decades of the artist’s work, and offers readers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the personal and creative world of the internationally acclaimed artist. Nara is widely known for his bold images of children with large heads and wide eyes that challenge the viewers with their direct gaze and defiant stance. These captivating yet ominous characters are part of a wider visual vocabulary established by Nara to explore and communicate themes of home, isolation, resilience, belonging, regeneration, hope and freedom. 

Essays by writers Yeewan Koon, Josh Kun, and Barry Schwabsky trace the evolution of his art, focusing in particular on his practice as a painter and his connection with popular music. The book also features an in-depth interview with Hayward Senior Curator Yung Ma, the artist's own photographs of his home and studio, and an extensive chronology that traces the evolution and breadth of his career. 

Featuring over 200 illustrations and a gold-foiled, clothbound hardback cover.