Bio

IsaLu Ishii Art

Coming from a predominantly linguistic background (I studied Italian Language and Literature at the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Bulgaria), I spent several years working as an interpreter and translator. After graduating, I decided to move to the gorgeous Renaissance city of Florence and made it my home for five glorious years.

Later, ready for a change and a new adventure, I took a leap of faith and relocated to London - a city I had never visited before and whose language I didn’t speak (I had studied French and Russian at school). Since then, London has become home - one of the best decisions I have ever made, and the place that reignited what I thought was a lost inspiration to create.

Although I spent countless hours drawing as a child, I abandoned my artistic side in my teenage years, frustrated by what I perceived as a lack of distinctive style and voice. After a few years in London, and decades of not touching a pencil, I embarked on a creative exploration, starting with layered papercut portraits. That process gave birth to my Blue Boys series, where those scarlet lips made their first appearance.

My art continues to evolve as I explore a variety of media, but one constant remains: it is a blend of colour and whimsy, created with the intention to amuse and make people smile. What you see is what you see - no hidden messages to be found!

Exhibitions

December 2025Scope Miami, with Mortal Machine Gallery, USA
June 2025Threesome: A Pride Month Show, Adorn The Common, London
June 2025 – Artwork featured on the set of the BBC series What It Feels Like for a Girl, based on Paris Lees’ bestselling memoir
January 2025À Trois, Mortal Machine Gallery, New Orleans, USA (group show)
January 2025In Fleeting Moments, Secession Gallery at Introduced, St Leonards-on-Sea (group show)
July 2024Adorn The Common Summer Art Fair, London
June 2024Lobby Mirror art installation for London Pride, The One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel, London
December 2023Scope Miami, with Mortal Machine Gallery, USA
October 2023SOTA: First Own Exhibition, The Lab E20, London (group show)
September 2023Keep the Fire Burning, Mortal Machine Gallery, New Orleans, USA (group show)


Press

2025  Attitude Magazine – feature on the group exhibition Threesome: A Celebration of Queer Art & Desire at Adorn The Common, London
2025 – BBC series What It Feels Like for a Girl – artwork featured on set