Icinori is one of those names that seem to encapsulate an entire world. Behind this pseudonym lies an artistic duo made up of Mayumi Otero and Raphaël Urwiller, united not only in life but also in a creative vision that blends East and West, craftsmanship and experimentation, illustration and storytelling. Their work has a rare coherence: each image is a small universe that tells a story, never shouting, always with elegance.

Their style is instantly recognizable. Icinori builds worlds made of precise lines, bold colors, and compositions that move between geometric rigor and fairytale charm. There’s something ritualistic in the way they use paper and ink: their screen prints, folding books, and pop-ups are objects to look at, but also to touch, to slowly open like an origami. The Japanese influence is felt in the details, the sense of space, the delicacy of the forms, but it’s never a superficial reference. It’s an authentic fusion, a visual grammar born from the meeting of cultures.

Flipping through the pages of their books feels like entering a controlled dream, where every element has its place, every figure is part of a larger narrative. Whether it’s an urban scene, an imaginary landscape, or a fragment of everyday life, Icinori always finds the visual key to transform it into something new. Their work is made of layers: there is storytelling, of course, but also technical research, graphics, publishing, and book design as an object.

Their Instagram account is a constant window into their creative process. They don’t just showcase the finished product, but invite you into the studio, among print tests, drafts, travels, and sketches. Each post is another piece to better understand their way of seeing and making art. And in a visual landscape that often feels standardized, Icinori continues to offer something unique, poetic, and carefully crafted. Far from trends, close to beauty.

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