Contextualized by horror and science fiction, while infusing vintage pulp aesthetics and Japanese manga influences— I aim to create a different way of looking into Blackness and the female experience.
GIGI MURAKAMI
ABOUT ME
Gigi Murakami is an NYC native, Ignatz nominated manga artist, illustrator, writer, content creator, and small creative business owner at the intersection of horror media, alt + nerd culture, and (schlocky) film. Her work blends Japanese manga art and vintage American comic and pulp aesthetics. She specializes in traditional ink and color illustrations, and manga art focusing on dark, fantastical, and dramatic themes.
In addition to developing original manga projects and freelancing, Gigi is currently operating her Patreon, online store: Gigimurakami.store, and creating content on her social media. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Shinji, and their dog Yuki.
BACKGROUND + INFLUENCES
Born in The Bronx borough of NYC, Gigi grew up in a low-income neighborhood experiencing many financial and health hardships. To cope, she disappeared into her art, anime & manga, horror and sci-fi movies, punk and alternative music, and television. Notable shows like “Tales from the Crypt” and “The Twilight Zone”—along with video games, like “Silent Hill” and “Resident Evil”—cemented their unique imagery and style of storytelling and influenced her during her childhood years.
Gigi is heavily influenced by Japanese manga art masters, such as Katsuhiro Otomo, Naoki Urasawa, Kentaro Miura, Satoshi Kon, and Junji Ito. Combining her tastes, beliefs, and personal experiences, she strives to produce illustrations and manga that are immersing, entertaining, and provocative, yet introspective.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is for people who are eager to engage the Black female experience in a novel way. Contextualized by horror, and science fiction, while infusing vintage pulp Americana, grind-house and monster movie aesthetics, and Japanese manga art imagery, I aim to create a different way of looking into the world of Black femalehood through my artwork.
I am passionate about meaningful representation and nuanced perspectives and believe deeply in storytelling and the power of visual media. I work to create art and narratives that delve into an experience that is often ignored or exploited and frame it against genres that are seldom easy to forget or unsee.
I want to cement these images and experiences into my viewer and invoke shock, awe, empathy, and admiration for Black women and femmes.
PRESS + MEDIA KIT
SAY HEY!
Let’s work together!
EVENTS
Events schedule
and archive.
GALLERY
Manga, client,
and personal work.
GENERAL FAQs
My official online store is www.gigimurakami.store. In addition to that, I have one stockist, Newtown HQ in Astoria, Queens, so you can now buy some of my art and merch in person.
I was always drawn to art, drawing, anime, cartoons, and manga. When I was like 6 or 7, I wanted to become an animator for Disney, so I've always had a passion for it.
Some of my notable influences include Katsuhiro Otomo, Naoki Urasawa, Satoshi Kon, Junji Ito, and Kentaro Miura,as well as Gigi Cavenago, Rockin JellyBean and Adam Hughes. Other influences include Akihito Yoshitomi, Shuzo Oshimi, Sushio, Kinu Nishimura, vintage pulp and pin-up art, and shows such as Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror and The Outer Limits.
I’m inspired by many creators and mediums, including video games, film, and music.
Some notable inspirations include:
- Artists such as Rockin Jelly Bean, Frank Frazetta, Yoshitaka Amano, Hamlet Machine, Gabriela Correa [Crisalys], Takeshi Obata, Acky Bright, and Hiromu Arakawa.
- Filmmakers such as Christoper Nolan, Ari Aster, Darren Aronofsky, and Quentin Tarantino
- And different titles, such as Silent Hill, Tales From the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Danganronpa and the Zero Escape, Resident Evil, and Siren.
If high school classes and Youtube tutorials count—then, no. If they don’t count—then yes! I haven’t had much formal training outside of high school classes.
I learned how to draw through observation and intentional practice. I study life for anatomy and environmental practice. I would also study the works of the artists I enjoyed. The same is true for manga as well. I studied a lot of work from manga artists and writers, as well as how to best approach manga and comics. I’m still studying day in and day out to improve my art and writing abilities. This process of studying is incredibly important to me and is a key reason for my growth—the learning is never finished.
This changes from time to time, but currently they are the Mitsubishi~Hi-Uni and Tombow mono100 pencils in HB and 2B, Pilot Dr. Grip mechanical pencil [.05 and .07], Prismacolor Col-Erase color pencils, Copic markers, Tombow Mono eraser, Pentel Brush pens, Pilot and Deleter 4 black ink, Tachikawa nib holder, G, Nihonji, and Maru pen nibs [I prefer the Nikko brand], Portatrace Lightbox, Deleter manga paper, and Kuratake Gansai and Holbein watercolors on occasion.
In no particular order:
Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Paranoia Agent and Erased.
Through my original stories and artwork, content creation and creative business, my goal is to become an internationally published horror mangaka and notable public figure within manga, anime, horror, film and alternative culture.
In addition to this I want to carve a path for other aspiring mangaka, and not only inspire, but aid them in pursuing their goals. This is the legacy I wish to leave behind.
