Hiroshi Tanabe’s distinguished illustrations emulated the clean lines of traditional woodcuts and have matured into more refined and layered drawings early in his career. Though constantly evolving, his works maintain a sense of modernity unparalleled in fashion and beauty illustration today. His illustrations have appeared throughout Europe, The United States and Japan.

Tanabe has published 2 books. An award winning illustrations book, blue mode, published by Korinsha Press (1998). The innovative approach to both illustration and design garnered Gold Awards for Tanabe and the designer, Hideki Nakajima from The New York Art Directors Club. They worked again for Tanabe’s second illustration book titled, “#2” published by Graphic-sha (2003). In 1997 Pucci International commissioned Tanabe to design a collection of mannequins and wall graphics. Tanabe has exhibited his illustrations internationally including solo exhibitions at Galerie Shinichiro Arakawa, Paris in 2000, Depot, Tokyo in 2001, Space Force , Rocket and Blue Lounge in Tokyo in 2003, The Parco Gallery, Nagoya in 2003. His work was included in the exhibitions such as “Young Guns • NYC ” in 1996, “Dreaming Girls” at The Parco Gallery, Tokyo in 1998, Visionaire’s Exquisite Corpse exhibition at Carlton Arts Festival, Sao Paulo, in 2001, Space 301 at Alabama in 2007, and The Mayor Gallery in London in 2000, coincided with the release of book “Fashion Illustration Now” published by Thames & Hudson.

Tanabe’s illustrations are held in public and private collections including The Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, The Society of Publication Designers and Print. His work was selected for Lurzers Archive’s Premier Commercial Illustration Annual 1999. In 1994 he earned world acclaimed British Vogue’s esteemed Vogue/Sotherby’s Beaton Award for fashion illustration.

Hiroshi Tanabe was graduated from Tama Art College with a degree in Graphic Design in Tokyo. In 1990 he furthered his education at Milan’s Accademia Belle Arti di Brera to study fine art and sculpture. Tanabe divides his time between Japan and New York.

Clients ­— The New Yorker, The New York Times magazine, British Vogue, Vogue Paris, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, GQ, Arena, Vibe, Visionaire, Anna Sui, Issey Miyake, Escada, Le Sport Sac, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nokia, Elektra Records, Sony Music, HBO, J. Walter Thompson, Toyota, Herman Miller, Guerlain, Shiseido, RMK, and Estee Lauder.