About
Photo by Chelsea Chun
Haruka Aoki (she/they) is a queer Japanese artist, poet, and author-illustrator of children’s books and is local to New York City and Kamakura, Japan.
Their narrative artwork, which regularly appears in The New York Times and The Washington Post, aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand-drawn characters engage the world around them.
Growing up often unsure of where “home” would be next, Haruka found and continues to find comfort in nature and community, a constant starting point in their work. By exploring the metaphysical realm in their artistic practice, they hope to provoke a sense of interconnectedness and provide an accessible space to process and heal as a collective.
Haruka received her BA from Brown University and her MS from Pratt Institute. She often feels deeply grateful to be an earthling and loves to frequent the universe in her meditations.
Their narrative artwork, which regularly appears in The New York Times and The Washington Post, aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand-drawn characters engage the world around them.
Growing up often unsure of where “home” would be next, Haruka found and continues to find comfort in nature and community, a constant starting point in their work. By exploring the metaphysical realm in their artistic practice, they hope to provoke a sense of interconnectedness and provide an accessible space to process and heal as a collective.
Haruka received her BA from Brown University and her MS from Pratt Institute. She often feels deeply grateful to be an earthling and loves to frequent the universe in her meditations.
Publication and Press
The New York Times, A (Bitter) Winter Love Letter, 2023
The New York Times, What Role Do Libraries Play in Your Life?, 2022
Yellow Glitter Podcast, Finding belonging at the intersection of art & activism with Haruka Aoki, 2022
The New York Times, An Ode to the Public Library, 2022
NPR’s Embodied Podcast, Plucked: The Calm and Chaos of A Hair-Pulling Disorder, 2022
The Los Angeles Times, This Plant-Loving New Yorker Visited L.A. for the First Time, 2022
The Washington Post, Growing up, I hid my hair pulling. It was a sign I needed help, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, Neighborly love: Ridgewood residents throw second annual block party, 2022
The Washington Post, This AAPI Heritage Month, I’m done living in fear, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, Ridgewood artist helps create new educational program for city’s Department of Sanitation, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, ‘All about the community’: Ridgewood residents show ‘support and love’ at local block party, 2021
The New York Times, A (Bitter) Winter Love Letter, 2023
The New York Times, What Role Do Libraries Play in Your Life?, 2022
Yellow Glitter Podcast, Finding belonging at the intersection of art & activism with Haruka Aoki, 2022
The New York Times, An Ode to the Public Library, 2022
NPR’s Embodied Podcast, Plucked: The Calm and Chaos of A Hair-Pulling Disorder, 2022
The Los Angeles Times, This Plant-Loving New Yorker Visited L.A. for the First Time, 2022
The Washington Post, Growing up, I hid my hair pulling. It was a sign I needed help, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, Neighborly love: Ridgewood residents throw second annual block party, 2022
The Washington Post, This AAPI Heritage Month, I’m done living in fear, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, Ridgewood artist helps create new educational program for city’s Department of Sanitation, 2022
The Ridgewood Times, ‘All about the community’: Ridgewood residents show ‘support and love’ at local block party, 2021