PROFILE
Naoki Matsuki (Illustrator/Artist)
A TIS member and AI research leader based in Japan.
He captures the raw atmosphere of narratives with a "quietly simmering" temperature, merging bold textures with photographic precision.
Primarily active in literary and mystery book covers for publishers including Shinchosha, Bungeishunju, and KADOKAWA. Awarded in the TIS Open Competition and a finalist for the HB File Competition.
Matsuki Naoki
Naoki Matsuki
Tokyo-based Illustrator and Artist. Member of the Tokyo Illustrators Society (TIS).
Born in Chiba in 1979, Naoki Matsuki’s artistic practice is a rare synthesis of Visual Engineering and fine art. Having specialized in Visual Engineering at Chiba University’s Graduate School, he spent two decades leading R&D teams at a major manufacturer, where he developed image-processing applications and medical AI. This career, centered on the logical deconstruction of visual perception, provides the structural foundation for his emotive visual storytelling.
Matsuki’s style is defined by a fusion of visceral matière—retaining the raw energy of the brushstroke—and a precise, photographic sense of composition. His works possess a characteristic temperature described as "simmering intensity," where a tranquil, minimalist surface conceals a deep internal heat. By navigating the boundary between representation and abstraction, he invites the viewer into "Ma"—the meaningful void designed to provoke profound resonance. His narrative-driven work is highly regarded in the fields of literature and mystery for its ability to visualize the intangible atmosphere of a narrative.
Selected Awards & Recognition
Tokyo Illustrators Society (TIS) Open Call (2023): Awarded and Selected in one of Japan’s most prestigious national competitions for professional illustrators (Recipient of the Turner Prize and Faber-Castell Prize).
HB File Competition (2023): Finalist in a premier competition hosted by Tokyo’s leading illustration gallery, renowned for launching the careers of Japan’s top-tier artists.
Solo Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions "Scramble," "Rain and Snow," and "Atmosphere": Held at HB Gallery (Omotesando, Tokyo), a sanctuary for elite Japanese illustrators located in the heart of Tokyo’s global fashion and art district.
Major Clients
Shinchosha, Futabasha, Shueisha, KADOKAWA, Bungeishunju, Gentosha, Kobunsha, Ask Publishing, and others.
