Popular illustrator and manga artist Tera Terada has her first solo exhibition: “LEZO”

Tera Terada

If you're into Japanese pop culture, and especially if you're into Vocaloid and other music popularized on Nico Nico Douga, you may have heard of Tera Terada 寺田てら. The popular illustrator and manga artist who was born in Germany then moved to Japan, has been highly appraised for her art expressing a unique world view and sense of color. Her characters are often cartoonish, in a chibi style, with themes drawing heavily from gaming, internet culture, and a kawaii, sometimes YamiKawaii aesthetic.

Terada has worked in a wide range of fields such as contributing designs for goods and apparel, as well as creating visuals for numerous music videos, and contributing art for CD jackets for artists such as ナナヲアカリ Nanawo Akari. Terada has also collaborated with many companies such as Village Vanguard, Shimamura, and Don Quijote.

With the artist's gracious permission, we've included some of her representative illustrations as well as a few music videos featuring her work. Jump to the "Illustrations and Music Videos" section.

If you're interested in manga, you'll find examples of her doujin manga on her Pixiv page and you can follow her new manga project "Junk Mall" in collaboration with Toho Animation on Instagram.

First Solo Exhibition: LEZO

Tera Terada's first solo exhibition LEZO*, produced by pixiv and Twinplanet, will feature not only her original works but also her collaborations in various fields such as music videos and clothing brands.

*The title in Japanese is レゾ (pronounced rezo) is rendered in English by the artist as LEZO, but the English text in the poster image suggests it is an abbreviation for "resolution."

僭越ながらpixiv WAEN GALLERYにて初個展を開催させていただくことになりました…!???個人的にとても気に入っている描き下ろしグッズや限定グッズなどたくさん予定しておりますので、是非是非チェックしていただけましたら幸いです！！！?????? pic.twitter.com/xrgEVV8lHE
— 寺田てら♨️1/8~1/27個展開催 (@trcoot) November 27, 2020

Furthermore, pixiv WAEN GALLERY exclusive original products will be sold in the gallery and online.

Exhibition Details

Event Dates: From January 8th to January 27th 12:00-19:00
Address: TWIN PLANET South BLDG. 1F, 5-46-1, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
Access:(5 min walk from the A1 Exit of Tokyo Metro's Omotesando Station)
Fee: none
Admission: Due to the novel coronavirus situation, entry will be restricted to avoid crowding. If too many people show up, the gallery may switch over to a numbered entrance ticket system. (check the gallery' Twitter account for updates). You will be asked to get a temperature check and to disinfect your hands upon entry. Please wear a face mask.
Exhibition Website

Special collaboration goods

REFLEM x Tera Terada by pixiv WAEN GALLERY

This collaboration has produced a one-of-a-kind parka and other goods. You can see more details here.

明日から寺田てらさんとのコラボパーカーが発売します✨

原宿店では特大パネルが設置されており、購入して頂いた方にはステッカーもお配りします‼️

近くに来た際は是非立ち寄ってみてください?
・
・
・#REFLEM #ラフォーレ原宿 #寺田てらさん pic.twitter.com/bDMlxfvJRj
— CIVARIZE原宿店さとう。 (@CIVARIZE_24) January 7, 2021

You'll also find a whole range of reproductions, prints, and exclusive LEZO exhibition goods and accessories at the pixiv WAEN GALLERY BOOTH shop here.

Here's a small sample:

委託分グッズのおしながきです?
他にもクッションやクリアファイルなど素敵なグッズを沢山作っていただいております☺️
↓↓↓↓https://t.co/C4mzK6fFQW pic.twitter.com/iuIMDWVNWZ
— 寺田てら♨️1/8~1/27個展開催 (@trcoot) January 8, 2021

Illustrations and Music Videos

Illustrations

land

Reproduced with permission from 寺田てら Terada Tera (@trcoot)

heven

Reproduced with permission from 寺田てら Terada Tera (@trcoot)

タコ Octopus

Reproduced with permission from 寺田てら Terada Tera (@trcoot)

rose

Reproduced with permission from 寺田てら Terada Tera (@trcoot)

てきとう女子 Tekitou girl(s)*

The Japanese word 適当 tekitō (which Terada has intentionally written out in hiragana as てきとう) is difficult to pinpoint in English. It has a range of interpretations depending on the context. In addition to its original meaning of "suitable" or "appropriate," in modern times, it has taken on another gamut of meanings, ranging from "unreliable," "irresponsible," "flaky," "careless," to "half-hearted" but also simply "laid-back," which is probably closer to what Terada is getting at here. They are one of her more popular series and have been made into LINE stamps.