Documenting the world in motion: Lauren Tamaki’s illustrations of modern life

Lauren Tamaki had been reticent to pursue a career in illustration – due in part to her sister being renowned illustrator Jillian Tamaki – but once she gave in, she was receiving commissions pretty much from the out. Her drawings, mainly in lively, freehand ink strokes, depict pool parties, busy streets, runway collections and portraits of life on New York’s busy subway system. The Brooklyn-based illustrator is inspired by the likes of Quentin Blake, Saul Sternberg and Ronald Searle; and she conveys the life of the city in a way that reflects the documentarian role of illustrators of yore, with references updated for modern life. While on her search for the perfectly-imperfect, effortless line, Lauren’s work can be seen in The New York Times, Lucky Peach and on Lenny Letter, amongst many other publications.