About the Artist

John Battalgazi is an award-winning international artist based in Tokyo, Japan. Raised between Toronto, Canada, and Hertfordshire, England, he pursued his formal art education in the UK and has since developed a distinctive visual style that merges bold geometry with rich texture and depth.


His work, inspired by late 19th and early 20th-century art movements—from Art Nouveau and Art Deco to Cubism and the Bauhaus—transforms simple geometric forms into complex, aesthetically striking compositions. While his influences are historical, the result is unmistakably contemporary and uniquely his own.


John’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries across Japan and the United States, and he regularly accepts commissions. His clients include magazines, newspapers, digital platforms, and major companies such as Apple, which featured his work in the UK App Store. His illustration of baseball legend Joe Mauer, commissioned by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, earned him a prestigious Society for News Design Award of Excellence.


You may have even caught a fleeting glimpse of his art in the 2022 HBO documentary Say Hey, Willie Mays!


John launched this site in July 2020, and he continues to upload new works regularly. For a closer look at his latest pieces and creative process, follow him on Instagram and Reddit—his primary platforms for sharing new content.


My Story so far

Having gone to art college in the UK, I dropped out to travel and took a 10 year hiatus from anything art related. I got back into art about a decade ago when I released a now defunct online course on How to Draw. Since then I have evolved artistically and am continuing to do so! In the last 5 years I have freelanced for the likes of Apple and ABC News, my art has been on the cover of a major arts publication, and I have been nominated for or received a number of awards. I am excited to see what the future holds!

Readers Magazine

Before I moved into my current sports niche, my artwork was featured on the cover of Reader’s Magazine, one of the largest and most influential art and culture publications in China. In addition to this milestone, my work has appeared in various magazines in the United States through freelance commissions, and has also been the subject of a special feature in a leading educational publication in South Korea.

Jazz Riff playing card deck

I designed this playing card deck which was released in October 2024 and was subsequently nominated for Deck of the Year at the annual DOTY awards.

Pick up a deck HERE.