Mariya Suzuki is an extraordinary artist. Not only does she draw ordinary scenes from life realistically, but in doing so she brings them to life. We have worked with Mariya on various projects including Roppongi Art Night, murals at travel agency Expedia, and our first ever “Vision Wall Workshop” at startup, “Straylight.” Mariya is truly like family to us.
Recently, we caught up with her and chatted about her work/career and her relationship with TokyoDex.
Why did you choose to become an artist?
"There isn’t much of a specific reason actually. A lot of people ask me this but it’s more like it was decided that I was going to become an artist from an early age, and I never doubted it. My father was the manager of a picture-book store (until I was about five years old) and my mother is a piano tuner. This influenced me into the world of art and music. So I started drawing from an early age as a hobby. Now drawing pictures has become a part of my personality and relates deeply to who I am. When I’m not engaging with it, I feel as if I am not being my true self. "
The theme tends to be “everyday scenery”, is there a specific reason for this?
"I guess it’s simply because I like it. It’s just the same as those who like mountains going hiking, or those who enjoy the sea going on trips to the seaside. I just like the everyday scenery I experience. The feeling of wanting to draw builds up inside me the moment I encounter the scenery, and that urge was probably the beginning of this all. In a way, because some things are embedded in our normal everyday life, it can sometimes be forgotten, flowing past us, which is also the beauty of the everyday scenery. I’d love for my work to remind people about this. I picture what I see, and if this can become an opportunity for people to realise and appreciate their time flowing by, that would be wonderful."
How did you meet TokyoDex and what kind of jobs have you participated in?
"I had a mutual friend with Daniel at TokyoDex. Back when I first moved to Tokyo, a friend of mine invited me to do a live drawing at an event called “This&That Café” hosted by TokyoDex and that was our first acquaintance.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work on different projects with TokyoDex. Mainly murals but sometimes live drawing or portrait illustrations at events too. Normally, I work freelance so I have to do everything by myself, from the communication with the client to the painting and management onsite. Whereas when I work with TokyoDex, we work as a team so there’s this excitement of being apart of something. Also, well, I can trust them. When I’m doing all of this alone, there’s this sense of limitation and it’s so difficult because I only have my skills to do the painting and the management. But when I work with TokyoDex, it’s easier to work because they can take care of management and help out with direction. It’s as simple as when there are more people, there are more skill sets involved. Also, because it is a company that really cares about its artists, I feel like I’m being protected. Since I’ve worked multiple times with them, and we’ve built this relationship, they really listen to what I want to say and want to do. I think they create a very easy environment to work in."
Express TokyoDex in one word.
"Hmm, I guess the word would be 'family.' It’s not like a family exists literally but when I work with TokyoDex, I feel a sense of a 'team.' That’s why even though I don’t work with them all the time, when I do see artists or staff I’ve met there, I feel a connection. It’s a family that’s being built like that little by little."
Mariya Suzuki
Mariya Suzuki was born in Nara and studied illustration in Long Beach, California. She currently works as an illustrator in Tokyo. She has contributed her work for many musicians, food professionals, and books and magazines from around the world. In addition to printed media, she also collaborates with interior designers to draw murals. Aside from work, she enjoys going around town to draw subjects whose shape or story catches her attention.