Hajime Sorayama

Japanese, b. 1947

Hajime Sorayama is celebrated for his sensual airbrushed depictions of humanoid robots, exploring femininity and beauty. Inspired by pinup art, he introduced the "Sexy Robot" series in 1983, with some pieces now selling for over $500,000. Starting in advertising and then freelancing in Hollywood for sci-fi films, Sorayama gained broader recognition in 1995 when Penthouse featured his work. His art empowers rather than objectifies his cyborgs, and he has also received commercial acclaim.