Art for Animation: Kosuke Hayashi
June 5 to October 5, 2025
Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM and by appointment
Riekeles Gallery, Am Bassin 10, 14467 Potsdam, Germany
We are proud to present the first-ever solo exhibition in Germany dedicated to a Japanese anime background artist: Kosuke Hayashi – Art for Animation. This landmark show features the work of Kosuke Hayashi, one of the leading background artists and art directors of the new generation in Japanese animation.
The exhibition opened on June 5, 2025, at Riekeles Gallery in Potsdam and will run through October 5, 2025. It marks the first solo exhibition of Hayashi’s work outside Japan.
Hayashi, currently working at Studio Ghibli, is renowned for his hand-painted style using traditional materials like poster color and brush on paper. At a time when much of the animation industry has turned digital, his painterly approach stands out for its subtlety, depth, and material presence.
The exhibition showcases Hayashi’s background art for In This Corner of the World and The Boy and the Heron, along with a selection of his personal works — many of which are being shown publicly for the first time. These independent paintings reflect Hayashi’s unique artistic vision beyond the confines of film production.
To accompany the show, we are offering a series of limited-edition Solegraphs — our fine art reproductions — as well as original artworks for sale. This is the first time Riekeles Gallery presents original pieces by the artist.
We warmly invite you to visit the exhibition and experience Hayashi’s remarkable contributions to the visual art of Japanese animation.
Biography of the Artist
Kosuke Hayashi
Art Director and Background Artist
Born in 1984 in Toyama, Japan, Kosuke Hayashi studied traditional Japanese painting (Nihonga) at the University of Tsukuba, graduating in 2008. Today, he works at Studio Ghibli and is widely recognized for his commitment to hand-painted techniques in an industry that has largely shifted to digital production.
Using poster color and brush on paper, Hayashi’s work is celebrated for its material richness, tonal subtlety, and painterly atmosphere. His unique approach brings depth and emotion to the animated worlds he helps create.
In 2025, Hayashi received the Nippon Rising Star Award at the Nippon Connection Film Festival in Frankfurt, acknowledging both his achievements in animation and his growing recognition as a visual artist.
Alongside his commissioned work for animated films, Hayashi also creates personal paintings. These one-of-a-kind pieces are often made during or parallel to his work in film production. As such, they resonate closely with the visual language of anime backgrounds. His personal and professional works inform each other, resulting in a body of art that reflects both his evolving technique and individual voice.
Professional Experience
2008 – J.C.STAFF Art Department
2011 – Inspired Inc.
2014 – Freelance background artist
2016 – Deho Gallery
2023 – Present: Studio Ghibli
As Art Director
– Giovanni’s Island (2014)
– In This Corner of the World (2016)
– The Invisible Man (2018)
– In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World (2019)
– Tomorrow’s Leaves (2020)
– The Imaginary (2023)
As Background Artist
– When Marnie Was There (2014)
– The Boy and the Beast (2015)
– Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
– Children of the Sea (2019)
– Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
– The Boy and the Heron (2023)
– Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window (2023)
Available artwork
Riekeles Gallery is proud to present not only high-quality solegraphs and a new fine art poster edition, but also — for the first time — original artworks by Kosuke Hayashi. These rare and intimate works offer a glimpse into the artistic vision behind some of the most acclaimed films in recent animation history.
Impressions of the opening
On 5 June 2025 we celebrated the opening of the exhibition in attendance of Kosuke Hayashi. It’s been a great honor to have the artist with us! Pictures by Adam Sevens.
