Anime NYC has come and gone. But during that time, we at The Beat were given a special opportunity by the Japan Society to attend the preview of Acky Brght’s exhibition in New York City titled Studio Infinity. The Exhibit showcases a majority of Acky Bright’s works over the years from his art in various DC comics, the art done for NETFLIX’s Squid Game, to even including his promotional works including those for McDonald’s with the YAOSOBI x Vaundy and WcDonald’s manga.
The Exhibit is located on the second floor within the Japan Society building on the Eastern coast of Manhattan at 333 East 47th Street. On the second floor there is one smaller space with various prints, line art, and sketches of various DC and Hasbro characters including Optimus Prime, The Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles, and Harley Quinn. There is also some original artworks created using Procreate along with drafts, early work in progress sketches and thumbnails which provide some insight into the creation process of Acky’s artwork with his signature Kawakakkoii (cute and cool) art style.
In the main gallery on the same floor is where larger paintings on canvas would be on display visible by both entrances to the main gallery showroom. There would be a wall with a video projected onto it playing the music video from the YAOSOBI x Vaundy collaboration with Acky Bright, with various character sheets and designs on display nearby. Further along the room will be more character sheets, illustrations of various characters in black and red ink on a white canvas, the paper bags with thumbnails used to plan the layout before the wcDonald’s manga mini-comic is printed onto it.
Then the main focus of the room is a large glass panel with two white walls on either side. This is where Acky Bright during the previews during August 23rd to the 25th, would do his live drawings on. I had the pleasure to also attend the opening reception event on the 22nd where attendees would be able to not only watch Acky Bright do a live drawing using markers on glass freestyle, but we would also be able to draw on the glass to add to the mural for the night. The Mural has been redone during the previews but it was a fun experience to interact with Acky’s artwork in this way. The final mural will be on the glass panel but extend outwards to both walls on either side of the glass which will be seen by attendees once the exhibit opens to the public on October 4th.
I had the luxury to ask Acky Bright during Anime NYC behind why he created this exhibit and here is what he had to say: I initially got the offer from Japan society and the first convention that I did in the U.S was here in New York City in 2022, so for that reason it felt appropriate to have this event here. I wanted this to be a glimpse into the creative process, so it’s not just the finished art that you’ll be looking at but how it came to be with the different steps that went behind it.
So if you’re one interested in the process of what goes into creating artwork or just want to admire the work of another artist, you can stop by Acky Bright’s Studio Infinity at the Japan Society from October 4th, 2024 to January 19th, 2025. It is an enjoyable experience for artists, fans of illustrations, and fans of Manga alike set in a very atmospheric location within New York City.
Feel free to check out Acky Bright on his X/Twitter and on Instagram to see more of his art and news of collaborations and projects he is involved with.
You can also check out his main website to read more about him and see his works and more news there.
If you want to check out preview Interviews and reviews of Acky’s previous work. You can check out the Acky Bright Archives right here on The Beat.
As always, until next time my adorable birb nerds!
