Yusuke Hanai’s pared-down graphic style features recognizable slacker characters caught in moments at once humorous and poignant. Hanai’s practice spans painting, drawing, and sculpture. The artist counts the Grateful Dead album art of Rick Griffin among his early inspirations; he is enamored with an array of cultural styles related to the American West Coast, including Beat writers like Jack Kerouac, surf culture, and 1960s San Francisco counterculture aesthetics. Hanai moved to the United States to study art before returning to his native Japan. He has exhibited in Los Angeles, London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo, among others, and has collaborated with brands that include Vans, Burton, ACME Furniture, and more.