{"id":245499,"date":"2026-01-22T04:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T04:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/245499\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T04:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T04:10:10","slug":"playful-enigmatic-narratives-shape-yuko-shimizus-action-packed-illustrations-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/245499\/","title":{"rendered":"Playful, Enigmatic Narratives Shape Yuko Shimizu&#8217;s Action-Packed Illustrations \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-3.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of two young swimmers underwater in black-and-white striped suits, wearing vintage metal diving helmets\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\"  \/>All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/p>\n<p>January 21, 2026<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"category-illustration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/illustration\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Illustration<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyuko-shimizu-whimsical-narrative-illustrations%2F&amp;title=Playful%2C%20Enigmatic%20Narratives%20Shape%20Yuko%20Shimizu%27s%20Action-Packed%20Illustrations\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tShare<br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyuko-shimizu-whimsical-narrative-illustrations%2F&amp;description=Playful%2C%20Enigmatic%20Narratives%20Shape%20Yuko%20Shimizu%27s%20Action-Packed%20Illustrations&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F01%2Fshimizu-3-960x1248.jpeg\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-gE1BntjE\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tPin<br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tEmail<br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bookmark<\/p>\n<p>Playful idiosyncrasies and bouts of whimsy bubble up in the works of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yukoart\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Yuko Shimizu<\/a>. Depicting swimmers in vintage bathing suits as they dive after giant fish or diminutive figures wading through tulips twice as tall as they are, the Brooklyn-based artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/yuko-shimizu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">playful illustrations<\/a> evoke folktales and dreams, characterized by enigmatic narratives and determined action.<\/p>\n<p>Shimizu has previously taught at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/11\/quarantine-artist-residency-menorca-spain\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Quarantine<\/a>, a unique residency off the coast of Menorca, Spain, where artists are invited to disconnect from tech in order to reconnect with the creative process and one another. She\u2019s currently working on a number of book illustration projects and preparing to return to Quarantine for another stint this spring. Find more on her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yukoart\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-2.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-2.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of a diminutive figure with numerous braids standing amid tulips that are twice as tall as her\" class=\"wp-image-468499\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2937\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-6.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of hands reaching up toward the tail of a heron, which flies in front of a red orb\" class=\"wp-image-468503\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-1.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of swimmers in black-and-white striped suits diving after large magenta fish underwater\" class=\"wp-image-468498\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-4.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2857\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-4.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of a giant red octopus holding a bottle and swimmers in its tentacles\" class=\"wp-image-468501\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-5.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-5.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of swimmers in black-and-white striped suits and caps\" class=\"wp-image-468502\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-8.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-8.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of snowy woods with red birds flying around a Bigfoot-like figure seated on a stump\" class=\"wp-image-468505\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-7.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468497\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shimizu-7.jpeg\" alt=\"An illustration by Yuko Shimizu of determined swimmers in striped suits and caps walking with a bullhorn and noisemakers\" class=\"wp-image-468504\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<p>Hide advertising<\/p>\n<p>Save your favorite articles<\/p>\n<p>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Receive members-only newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/p>\n<p>Join us today!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$7\/month<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$75\/year<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Explore membership options<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/01\/kris-knight-green-carnation-paintings\/\" rel=\"prev nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Next article<\/a><br \/>\n\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission January 21, 2026 Illustration Kate Mothes Share Pin Email&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245500,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,49122,111,139,69,19234,17933,143539],"class_list":{"0":"post-245499","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-artsdesign","12":"tag-design","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-flowers","15":"tag-new-zealand","16":"tag-newzealand","17":"tag-nz","18":"tag-octopus","19":"tag-swimming","20":"tag-yuko-shimizu"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}