About

About Pleasant Shimo

Pleasant Shimo produces contemporary art that captures how a neighbourhood feels—not just how it looks. Through partnerships with more than 20 local painters, printmakers, and illustrators, we’ve translated iconic neighbourhoods in Tokyo and Vancouver into compelling visual narratives. Each piece begins with field research and is shaped through a collaborative design-thinking process.

These aren’t just keepsakes. They’re reminders of why you went and what stayed with you.

Our Creative Process

We aim to evoke a sense of place that feels instantly familiar to those who’ve been, and intriguing to those who haven’t. The process includes interviews, creative consultations, and feedback sessions. It’s a collaborative dialogue between artist and team, informed by field research and close familiarity with the neighbourhood. The result is artwork that blends lived experience with aesthetic clarity.

The Artists

Pleasant Shimo prioritizes underrepresented and emerging voices. Nearly 90% of our contributing artists are women, representing six countries and a broad range of styles. Each artists has a personal connection to the places they depict and a commitment to turning lived experience into art.

The Team

Pleasant Shimo was founded in 2024 by Brett Kwan, a former international journalist who spent a decade producing stories at CBC Vancouver, TRT World in Istanbul, and NHK World in Tokyo. After earning his MBA from McGill University, Brett launched Pleasant Shimo to bring together his love of storytelling, community, and thoughtful design.

Special thanks to Marko Matijevic for designing Pleasant Shimos’s website.