How did we go without a Yoshimoto Nara gallery on Lifelounge for so long? The Tokyo-based artist creates some of today's most loved and familiar characters. Gaining prominence in the 1990s Nara's artworks are immediately reconisable due to their cartoon-ish lines, pastel colours and the subjects' mischievous but cute expressions. It's often mentioned that Nara's work is influenced by Manga and punk-rock, but he's also cited Renaissance era art and graffiti as inspirations. His innocent rebels are clever contradictions that charm and intrigue. More at marianneboeskygallery.com.