Simone Legno, Golden Romics of the 37th edition

Artist, illustrator and co-founder of tokidoki, a global phenomenon at the crossroads of contemporary pop culture and Kawaii Impressionism, to be honoured with the Romics Gold Award.

Simone Legno, the internationally acclaimed Roman artist, illustrator, co-founder and Creative Director of tokidoki, will be honoured with the Romics Gold Award during the 37th edition of Romics, taking place from 1 to 4 October 2026 at Fiera Roma.

In 2005, Simone Legno co-founded tokidoki, the international brand that has become a global phenomenon in contemporary pop culture. Deeply inspired by Japanese culture, Legno chose the name tokidoki—meaning "sometimes"—to reflect the belief that chance encounters and unexpected moments can change the course of life. Born from the shared vision of Legno together with entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold, tokidoki has built a worldwide community of fans through its iconic characters, instantly recognisable visual style, and unique ability to connect with audiences across cultures and generations.

Legno's work has been celebrated through major cultural events and museum exhibitions around the world, including the iconic Kawaiimpressionism Solo Art Exhibition by Simone Legno in Singapore, highlighting the impact of his artistic vision on contemporary art, design and popular culture. He has created characters that have become icons of contemporary pop culture and has collaborated with some of the world's leading brands, including Karl Lagerfeld, Barbie, Marvel, Hello Kitty, McDonald's, Uniqlo, Levi's, Xbox and Sephora. Over the years, he has expanded his creative universe into a wide range of products spanning fashion, accessories, designer toys and lifestyle.

His ability to create characters that transcend cultural and generational boundaries has also been recognised by major international institutions. Among his most recent projects are Luce, the official mascot of the 2025 Jubilee created in collaboration with the Vatican, Nipponina, created for the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan, and Italia-chan, Italy's official mascot for Expo 2025 Osaka.

In the field of animation, Simone Legno contributed to the development of the concept, characters and storytelling of the animated series Mermicorno: Starfall. A frequent guest at museums, universities and international conferences, he is widely regarded today as one of the leading figures in contemporary illustration, character design and global pop culture.

During the 37th edition of Romics, Simone Legno will meet the public for a special event dedicated to his career and the creation of his unique creative universe, sharing the journey that took him from Rome to the international stage.