Welcome to my

Shop all the goodies here!

BIPOC woman owned and operated

Illustrated and designed by Emiko

Minnesota based small business

ILLUSTRATOR

Nana and Abuela
Minnesota Historical Society Press

I had a blast custom painting this @littlefreelibrary for @ReadWithMeMN, and it will be auctioned off at the More Than Lit fundraiser on August 7! You’re invited!!! Get your tix now!

https://www.readwithmemn.org/more-than-lit

This colorful cutie was painted with hope that this little library becomes a place where neighbors discover new stories, kids fall in love with reading, and books find their next home.✨

If you’re attending More Than Lit, I hope you’ll stop by, say hi, and maybe even take this one-of-a-kind library home. 🌈📚🏛️

What books would you put on the shelf?📕👇🏽

#LittleFreeLibrary #MoreThanLit #ReadWithMeMN #communityart #emikorainbow

I’m so excited to share that I’ve been selected as a Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) Next Step Fund Recipient! 🌈🎉

This support gives me the opportunity to dedicate focused time to creating something that’s been living in my heart for a long time: my debut author-illustrated project!!!

Over the coming months, I’ll be developing my debut written and illustrated young graphic novel! Also I’ll be querying agents for my first time ever!

I can’t believe I’ll be working on dream projects that explore identity, belonging, imagination, and joy through colorful storytelling.

As an independent artist, time is often the hardest resource to find. This grant creates space to write, sketch, revise, and bring these stories closer to the bookshelf. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to share more behind-the-scenes peeks as these projects come to life.

Thank you to @metroregionalartscouncil who has encouraged my creative journey. Your support means more than you know. Here’s to taking the next step. 💛📚🎨

This project is made possible by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through a grant from the McKnight Foundation

#authorillustrator #younggraphicnovel #creativehappylife

Many of you guessed right! My second hand painted Little Free Library is happening for one of the best nonprofits around @readwithmemn! 🌈📚❤️

Join us on August 7th for the big event, there will be food, art, dancing! Also your chance to win this Little Free Library!

See another sneak peak on slide two 👀

What’s my next project going to be? 🌈🤔

#illustratorlife #painting #sneakpeek #minnesotaartist #minneapolisartist

Hi! Just wanted to post some close ups of the stickers and things I designed for ya this summer! You’ll also get a peek at some very wobbly sketches that turn into bold bright summer lovin’. I’m SO proud of this project… Colorful art + Community= Emiko’s happy place. 🌈❤️I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labor (of love)!

I just heard that someone donated a HEFTY 💰 donation to the library because of the fun easter eggs I added into these illustrations… WHAT?! That made my freaking WEEK! When art changes lives and makes a community impact… that’s real magic right there!

If you’re looking for something fun to do this summer solo or with kids, go to your local library @hclib! They have FREE stickers, mini notebooks, a bingo card and many many more free resources for you. All illustrated by local artist- moi! Emiko 🌈 at your service 🥰

The summer program has just kicked off full of other freebie fun stuff to do! Bubbles, legos, video games, reptiles, llamas(!!!), puzzles, board games… and so much more. Enjoy!

Thumbnails Emiko style ✏️❤️🌈

I think I’m the only person who can read these 🤔

They make sense to me - so that good… I’m reworking my graphic novel over and over again so the flow is right. Progress over perfection. 🥰 Hope you’re having a fab day ☀️

A perfect day with @outandaboutbookbus and my kids as we celebrated Pride in Golden Valley @gvpridefest!
🌈☀️❤️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I read Nana and Abuela to rainbowy kids bright eyed on blankets in the cool shade, @mndeafqueers made a super inclusive environment and we got to see my coloring sheet irl! Checking out Dorothy, in all her lavender loveliness and of course all the LGBTQIA+ books and kid stuff inside and out.

It’s so fun and heartwarming to see everyone out enjoying summer in full swing. We shared ice cream, cheese curds and some fries 🤭 Kids did a great job keeping up and running around. #goldenvalleypride #pride2026 #emikorainbow #outandaboutbus #therainbowcollective

Hey hey! Look what we found!! 🤩

Soft launch of FREE lil Notebooks and Bingo Card at Ridgedale Library! All illustrated by a local artist, me!

Stickers, notebooks, bingo cards and posters will ALL be available on June 13th 🥰🌈📚So soon!

We’re having a fun first day of summer!!! Surprised to see my art in 1/40 something Hennepin county libraries early (go check out your closest Henn library and grab free goodies!), a great book haul (including free new books! The library is awesome…) and had an intense game of ginormous chess! ♟️📚Happy Summer!

#hennepincountylibrary #hennepincounty #library📚 #illustratorlife

A few profesh photos came in from the Award Ceremony. See me trying to act cool while my heart bursts rainbow confetti glitter everywhere 🌈✨❤️🏆

Such a fun night!!!

Thank you always @childrencollectiveartsacademy and @yeahitstubes !!!

This last weekend was one of the BEST weekends of my life so far!!! 🌈❤️ Along with receiving a Creative Visionary Award on Saturday…!!! I hosted a very meaningful event on Sunday!!

Celebrating MN AAPI Creative Voices was everything I dreamed it could be and more!

It was joy.
It was laughter.
It was connection.
It was storytelling.
It was community.
It was art.
It was advocacy.
It was delicious food.
It was new friendships.
It was old friendships.
It was inspiration.
It was healing.
It was warmth.
It was hope.
It was fun!
It was celebration!!!

It’s an awe inspiring gift to gather in a room filled with artists, authors, musicians, entrepreneurs, community leaders, activists, and creatives who are using their voices to make Minnesota better.

As someone who grew up often feeling caught between worlds, being surrounded by so many brilliant AAPI creatives who understand the power of representation, culture, identity, and belonging filled my heart in ways I can’t really put into words. ❤️🌸

Thank you to every person who attended, supported, volunteered, sponsored, shared, encouraged, and believed in this event. You made the magic happen!!

Community is everything. Especially the kidlit community 🥰📚

I want my AAPI community and Kidlit creatives to know that I have your back. Always. And this weekend reminded me that you have mine too. 🥹❤️

Together, we’re building something beautiful. Together, we’re creating space for the next generation to see themselves, tell their stories, and know they belong.

My heart is so full. Thank you!!!

Until next year. ✨🌈🥰😜

#MNAAPI #AAPI #communityovercompetition #representationmatters

So… I won an award…!!! 🌈🏆❤️

I’m still floating like a cloud from this weekend of wonderful community connection 🤩

I am deeply honored to have received the “You Make a Difference” award from the incredible Thuba Nguyễn @yeahitstubes and the Children of the Collective Arts Academy, LLC @childrencollectiveartsacademy!

Thank you, Thuba, for creating a space that celebrated AAPI artists, storytellers, advocates, and community builders. The evening was filled with connection, inspiration, happy tears, and a reminder that the work we do matters, especially when we do it together during tough times.

As an illustrator and small business owner, so much of my work happens quietly behind a desk of art supplies. To be recognized alongside so many talented changemakers was both humbling and energizing. ✨

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared their stories, and continues to use their gifts to make our communities more inclusive, creative, and compassionate. And thank you to Thuba for bringing us together and reminding us that every act of courage, creativity, and advocacy creates ripples far beyond what we can see.

Here’s to continuing to show our true colors.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

#AAPIMonth #CommunityOverCompetition #representationmatters #minnesotaartist

Hennepin County Library got a rainbow refresh 🌈📚

I illustrated the official Summer Learning collection for Hennepin County Library!! TWO posters, a notebook, stickers, and character art for this Discover Summer program. All FREE for you to pick up!!
🐱🐶🐍🐌📚

Seeing my art head out to libraries all across Hennepin county honestly feels surreal 🥹 My librarian grandma Charlotte would be so proud!!

The best part? Kids will get to interact with these designs all summer long through reading, creativity, and community activities 🌈❤️

Keep your eyes out for Summer Learning materials at your local library starting this summer 👀✨JUNE 13th!

And yes… the cutie critters I illustrated made it onto the official bingo/activity card too! 😊

🏷️#HennepinCountyLibrary #SummerLearning #EmikoRainbow ChildrensIllustration PictureBookIllustrator MinnesotaArtist IllustratorLife SupportyourlocalLibrary DiversityInArt

Today is the day! May Day Parade and Block Party Day!
📍Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis - 12PM

Grab one of my free coloring sheets at the festival.

See you there!🌈❤️
Emiko

Happy May Day! Happy Beltane! Spring is here!

Pick up my free coloring sheet at Powderhorn Park this Sunday after the big amazing artful famous parade!! 🎭

This illustration is full of flower crowns, a May pole, spring critters, puppets, bubbles, mpls skyline, confetti and more! I hope you have fun coloring it as much as I had fun making it.

Spring blessings to you! 💐🌹🌺🌷🌸🌻🌼🪻🦋🌈

Flittery flutters of ink on a wonderful whimsy page✨

Just for fun ☺️✏️Inspired by the home I grew up in Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis.

#emikorainbow #illustrator

Illustration consumes my life and I’m definitely ok with that. 🌈❤️

Check out the cards I did at Trader Joe’s!

TJ’s has the best brightest cards by real artists 🌈🎨

Check out the back and you’ll see the artists’ name.

Thank you all who have picked one of my cards there, it means a lot!!

🪩✨🌈🛼Whooooshhhh!!!

My “Follow the Call of the Disco Ball” Card is out in your local TJ’s store now!!! Send happy mail to a friend that loves dance, color and sparkles! Illustrated by me, a local MN artist, made by a local woman owned business, sold at the friendliest colorful grocery store around!

Let me know if you grabbed one! Tag me and l shout you out in my stories 🥰✨🌈❤️

Please join us on SUNDAY, May 31st, at Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative - 3-4:30PM

Hosted by Emiko Rainbow— This is a FREE event!

Children’s Picture Book readings by Thuba Nguyen, Cristina Oxtra and Kao Kalia Yang.

Each reader will read their picture books and in-between readings, we will have special AAPI guests sharing their beautiful work too:
Payal Doshi, Meenal Patel, Karen Latchana Kenney and Trần Thị Minh Phước

Wild Rumpus will join us and sell all of these local creatives’ books!

Bead art and dress-up activity with Trần Thị Minh Phước and children’s musician with Rose Lani!

There will be a craft table of coloring pages, stickers, bookmarks, etc.

Food truck on site.

All are welcome to show up - kids are encouraged to come!

1712 Marshall St NE MPLS

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

#mnaapi #aapi #aapiheritagemonth #minnesotaartist

IT’S SAMPLE DAY!!!

When you’re at Trader Joe’s stop by their card rack you’ll see an eye catching Easter Card that is bright, bold and damn cute!!! 🥚🐣🐰💐

Are you EGG-cited for Easter?! Support a creative art biz when you grab one of these cards. Send an unexpected card to a loved one. It’s the best feeling!!

If you’re looking for a freelance artist who is fun, easy to work with and makes the most colorful whimsical art - welcome to the rainbow world of Emiko!!! I’m glad you’re here, everyone is welcome (but we do have an no A-hole policy!). 🥰

Let’s chat about our next project together. In the meantime go to TJ’s and get this Easter card!!!

🌈❤️

It’s always a fun time and such an honor being a featured author & illustrator… Especially at the @60southsixth @strivepub pop-up bookshop in downtown Minneapolis!

Grateful to share my work, connect with the community, and celebrate stories together. And of course it’s always a good time hanging with my kid lit pal @payaldoshiauthor 📚🌈❤️

New Easter Art! 🌈❤️🥚🐰

Greeting card at Trader Joe’s now available! Pick one up, support an artist. 🧑🏻‍🎨 Send a couple goofy Easter eggs sliding down a rainbow to someone to make them smile 😊

2025 dump! 🥰😍

I love my little fam
I love my friends
I love my art biz… Pop ups, freelance, picture book making, murals, readings and so much more! 🥹🥳
I love my MN community!!!

I love this life!!! How lucky am I? I hope 2025 was good to you, even with the bad, we can learn and grow together! I see you!

🫶🏻🫶🏼🫶🏽🫶🏾🫶🏿

Your support and smiley faces life me up when I see you!!! Looking forward to spending time and good creative energy on my picture book this year.

Also seeing you all again and again!

✌🏼🌈❤️
Emiko

✨ I’m the guest speaker at Picture Book Salon! ✨

📅 Monday, April 13
⏰ 7–8 PM (Central)
📍 Virtual + FREE

I’ll be giving a sneak peek into my illustration process and leading a fun creative exercise called “One Line, Big Story,”. We’ll draw a simple picture book-style scene using just one continuous line, focusing on storytelling, emotion, and character, ✨not artistic skill necessary! It’s a playful way to see how even the simplest line can tell a powerful story.

There will also be time for Q&A, so bring your questions about picture books, illustration, and my creative process!

Plus… several copies of Nana and Abuela will be given away to attendees. 🎉

Register to RSVP and join us! LINK IN BIO! 🔗🔗🔗

Big thanks to local Author Molly Beth Griffin!! @mbgriffinbooks
www.mollybethgriffin.com check out her beautiful work!!

Learn more about my work: emikorainbow.com

Happy International Women’s day! Send or share this to celebrate your favorite girl friend!!! 💞

I’m lucky to have very strong inspiring women in my circle, from different places, ethnicities and all walks of life!
✨💪🏼💃🏻👸🏽

#internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2026

Shout out to friends that lift you up when you’re in an art rut! Thank you for your kind words about my last fugly painting I was “winging it” on. 😝

Oh boy kinda embarrassed I posted that art in my stories but look what came of it!!! Yay! 🌱🌄🍄

Thank you @kellerdesignco and everyone else who said nice words. @katananana @mlscherz I definitely wasn’t fishing for them!! Just sharing the process. Which can be deceiving when you see people post on the internet. Good things take time. ✨

The first painting was maybe an hour or 2 the second, on and off maybe 5 hours?

Anyway, I don’t think this second painting is done either but I’m putting it down for now and starting something else new! Happy Monday all!

#gouchepainting #illustrator #artlife #processpainting

A lil’ Sunday Studio clean up! 🎨🖌️

Moved furniture around, broke down tons of cardboard boxes, vacuumed, a pre-spring cleaning if you will 💐

FEELS GOOD!!!

#happysunday #artstudio #illustratorlife

🌈❤️You might see this coloring page circulating around Minneapolis and Saint Paul…

I’ve donated this page to a few awesome nonprofits and programs to help kids sheltering at home from 🧊-holes.

I have free print outs on my website www.emikorainbow.com check em out if you’re interested and need something zen to do to calm the nerves and be a little creative.

#fice #immigrantswelcome #emikorainbow #minneapolis #minnesota

Two new MN Nice, F*CK ICE stickers dropped! 🚫🧊

Cold roots, MN NICE, warm hearts, F*CK ICE. These holographic beauties are now available in the shop (link in bio!) and 100% of profits go directly to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund (IRRF).

IRRF is a coalition of 32 philanthropic leaders providing rapid funding to Minnesota organizations supporting immigrant and refugee families during immigration-related emergencies. Your sticker purchase = immediate community impact. 🌈💫

Rep Minnesota pride while making a difference. That’s what I call Minnesota Nice!!!

Shop link in bio ⬆️

🏷️#Minnesota #MNNice #FckICE #ImmigrantRights #CommunitySupport IRRF MinnesotaPride ShopSmall ShopForACause HolographicSticker MinnesotaSticker LandOf10000Lakes Minneapolis

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow Emiko on Instagram

@emikorainbow

Artist of MN Twins T-Shirt

As part of the T-Shirt Tuesday Artist Series, the Twins picked Emiko to design one t-shirt for one Tuesday game each month, starting in May 2023. The first 5,000 fans at each of those games will receive a one-of-a-kind T-shirt with an iconic Twins logo reimagined by Emiko.

Emiko Rainbow and Caribou Coffee Illustration and Design Cup.jpg

Caribou Coffee
x
Emiko RAINBOW

2024 HOLIDAY CUP DESIGN WINNER

“I was inspired by the celebratory feelings of the holiday season: seeing the first snowflake fall, sparkly wrapped gifts with big bows, the warmth of peace and love from family and friends,” Rainbow explained of her design. “I wanted to express that on this cup so we can carry it with us wherever we go.” Emiko began with a few hand-drawn sketches on paper, then scanned them into Procreate and finished the line art digitally, using Adobe Illustrator for the color portion.

Read the blog >

follow @emikorainbow
Please feel free to share my work with proper credit and tagging me
( All artwork & images of artwork are the sole property of Emiko Rainbow and may not be used or reproduced in any way for profit without permission )

Welcome to my

Shop all the goodies here!

Emiko Rainbow Newsletter

ILLUSTRATOR

Follow Emiko on Instagram

Artist of MN Twins T-Shirt

Caribou Coffee
x
Emiko RAINBOW

2024 HOLIDAY CUP DESIGN WINNER

follow @emikorainbow
Please feel free to share my work with proper credit and tagging me
( All artwork & images of artwork are the sole property of Emiko Rainbow and may not be used or reproduced in any way for profit without permission )

LET'S CONNECT!
SIGN UP FOR EMIKO'S NEWSLETTER

USA family run small business

Illustration and Design by Emiko Rainbow

From my art studio based in Minnesota

Privacy Policy

Returns & Exchanges

Terms & Conditions

Shipping

Website design by Emiko Rainbow

© 2026 Emiko Rainbow

Welcome to my

Shop all the goodies here!

Emiko Rainbow Newsletter

ILLUSTRATOR

​

Follow Emiko on Instagram

Artist of MN Twins T-Shirt

Caribou Coffee x Emiko RAINBOW

2024 HOLIDAY CUP DESIGN WINNER

follow @emikorainbow Please feel free to share my work with proper credit and tagging me ( All artwork & images of artwork are the sole property of Emiko Rainbow and may not be used or reproduced in any way for profit without permission )

LET'S CONNECT! SIGN UP FOR EMIKO'S NEWSLETTER

USA family run small business

Illustration and Design by Emiko Rainbow

From my art studio based in Minnesota

Privacy Policy

Returns & Exchanges

Terms & Conditions

Shipping

Website design by Emiko Rainbow

© 2026 Emiko Rainbow

Caribou Coffee
x
Emiko RAINBOW

follow @emikorainbow
Please feel free to share my work with proper credit and tagging me
( All artwork & images of artwork are the sole property of Emiko Rainbow and may not be used or reproduced in any way for profit without permission )

LET'S CONNECT!
SIGN UP FOR EMIKO'S NEWSLETTER