Hajime Sorayama

Hajime Sorayama (b. 1947, Ehime) occupies a singular position between illustration, design, and fine art. His chrome-skinned "Sexy Robot" figures, first created in 1978, defined an aesthetic of gleaming, airbrushed hyperrealism that has influenced generations of artists, designers, and musicians. Sorayama's precision is legendary — every reflection on his metallic surfaces is painted by hand — and his reach extends well beyond the gallery: he contributed the original concept design for Sony's AIBO robot dog and created the monumental robot sculpture for Dior's Pre-Fall 2019 show in Tokyo. Long a cult figure internationally, he has in recent years been embraced by the contemporary art mainstream, with his works commanding strong and rising demand.