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Installation view of "PASSING WIND" at TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY Roppongi, Tokyo, 2024 ©️Aya Ito -
Installation view of "PASSING WIND" at TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY Roppongi, Tokyo, 2024 ©️Aya Ito -
Installation view of "PASSING WIND" at TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY Roppongi, Tokyo, 2024 ©️Aya Ito -
Installation view of "PASSING WIND" at TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY Roppongi, Tokyo, 2024 ©️Aya Ito -
伊藤彩 Aya Ito I AM DONE 2024 oil on canvas 227.3 x 227.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
LUCY 2024 splay and oil on canvas 227.3 x 227.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
Installation view from “Unfortunately I love you” at YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023 ©Aya Ito, photo by YIRI ARTS -
THE SPIRIT OF THE THINKING 2022 oil on canvas 112.0 x 194.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
BUFF BUFF ASSHEAD 2022 oil on canvas 112.0 x 145.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
UNIVERSE CROSSING 2022 oil and spray on canvas 49.8 x 43.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
DIG UP HAPPINESS 2022 oil and spray on canvas 49.7 x 43.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
Where is banana? 2021 spray and oil on canvas 227.3 x 363.6 cm (a set of 2 pieces) ©Aya Ito -
SWING INTO APE LOVE 2021 spray and oil on canvas 181.8 x 227.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
APE SPROUTS OUT 2021 spray and oil on canvas 60.6 x 72.7 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
DOKIDOKI MIDORI KITSUNE WITH BLOSSOM PALS 2021 spray and oil on canvas 60.6 x 50.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
SCENERY IN FLAMES 2020 oil on canvas 162.0 x 130.3 cm ©️Aya Ito -
SNEAKY EYES ON LIGHT TOWER 2020 oil on canvas 130.6 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
DON’T BE SHY SAMURAI 2020 oil on canvas 112.1 × 145.7 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
BOTTLED TEDDIES BY THE MOON 2020 sand and oil on canvas 130.5 x 162.2 cm ©Aya Ito -
Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2020 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi -
LOVE POWER VER.1 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 x 162.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
LOVE POWER VER.2 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, 2020 ©Aya Ito photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
Installation view from "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, 2020 ©Aya Ito photo by Osamu Sakamoto -
LOVE POWER VER.3 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
MAGENTA SPRING 2019 oil on linen 100.0 × 100.4 cm ©Aya Ito -
ELEPHANT MAN SWIMS IN THE SPACE OCEAN 2019 oil on linen 100.1 × 100.2 cm ©Aya Ito -
ELEPHANT MAN WITH FISHER ANGEL 2019 oil on linen 100.1 × 100.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Trap 2018 oil on canvas 60.0 × 80.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
Vortex 2018 oil on canvas 150.2 × 150.4 cm © Aya Ito -
Mikado-chan in the twilight 2017 oil on canvas 130.5 × 162.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
River imp in the vegetables town 2017 oil on canvas 130.5 × 227.5 cm (a set of 2 pieces) ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito -
Sleeping Stone 2017 oil on canvas 120 × 150 cm ©Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe -
I’m homesick 2016 oil on canvas 65.0 × 80.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
Mikado-chan meets River imp 2017 oil on canvas stretched by cage φ28.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe -
Kurun-kurun 2017 oil on canvas 51.0 × 51.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe -
Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
THE HOLE SizeXS 2015 oil on canvas 114 × 273 cm (18 pieces: 38 × 45.5 cm each) ©Aya Ito -
THE HOLE SizeXS (detail) 2015 oil on canvas 38 × 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
THE HOLE SizeXS (detail) 2015 oil on canvas 38 × 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
Hips 2015 oil on canvas 38.0 x 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi -
Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka -
Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka -
Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka -
Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka -
BELIEVE 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 218.5 × 291.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
でまかせくん Hokum boy 2012 oil an acrylic on panel, ceramic 35 × 44.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
They watch THAT together 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 162 × 227 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
She has golden balls 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 170 × 227 cm ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito -
穏やかに臭う Smelling mildly 2011 oil, acrylic, color pastel, crayon on canvas 137.5 × 200.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
エリーです I'm Ellie 2011 oil, water color, paperclay, glue on canvas 40.0 × 30.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
私はだれでしょう Who am I? 2011 oil on canvas 91.0 × 116.5 cm ©Aya Ito -
どこそこのだれだれ Ver.2 Someone from somewhere ver.2 2011 oil, water color, pastel, paperclay, glue on canvas 40.5 × 30.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito -
景色 ver.3 女 Landscape ver.3 woman 2010 oil, pastel on canvas/ oil on ceramic 73.1 × 60.2 cm/ 8.8 × 21.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
MAMI 2010 oil, acrylic on canvas 38.0 × 50.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
ピンポイント・タッチ Pinpoint touch 2010 oil, acrylic, pastel, crayon on canvas 40.9 × 52.7 cm ©Aya Ito -
失恋モード Broken heart mode, 2010 oil on canvas 44.8 × 32.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
妄想くん Daydreaming boy 2010 oil on canvas 59.4 × 84.3 cm ©Aya Ito -
妄想くん Daydreaming boy 2010 expanded polystyrene, paper clay, wood glue, gesso h.76.5 × w.53.0 × d.97.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
B.C. '09 Gold 2010 bronze, motor h.33.0 × w.23.0 × d.15.0 cm ©Aya Ito -
Installation view from "TKG Project #2" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2010 ©Aya Ito
Aya Ito was born in Arida-city, Wakayama in 1987. She received MFA from Department of Painting, Graduate School of Art, Kyoto City University of Arts. She currently lives and works in Dublin, Ireland, and Wakayama, Japan.
Ito received the Suntory award at “Art Camp in Kunst-Bau 2007” (Suntory Museum, Osaka), the Shu Uemura Prize and the Judge’s Prize (Yuko Hasegawa) at “Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011”. Her major group exhibitions include “VOCA 2010” (The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, 2010), and “RESONANCE” (Suntory Museum, Osaka, 2010), “Really Realistic Reality” (The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, 2015). She has recently presented work at “AYA ITO & ATSUSHI KAGA IT HAPPENS TO BE” (Pallas Projects/Studios, Ireland) in July 2017. She also had solo exhibition “Sleeping Stone” (8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo) in September 2017.
1987 Born in Wakayama, Japan
2009 B.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts
2011 M.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2024 | “PASSING WIND” Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan “Poetry of Genomeー Collaboration with Fujimura Family” Gallery NEXT, 6th floor, Takashimaya Osaka, Osaka, Japan [traveled to Kawakyu Museum, Wakayama, Japan] |
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2023 | "Unfortunately I love you” YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan “Aya Ito: Magic Spittle” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China |
2021 | “Where is banana?” MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan |
2020 | "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, Japan "Blink ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" NADiff a/p/a/r/t, Tokyo, Japan "Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication crowdfunding incentives exhibition" Grenier, Tokyo, Japan |
2019 | “Rapid Rabbit hole” Grenier, Tokyo, Japan |
2018 | “Reflection” Pulp, Osaka, Japan “Vortex” hitoto, Osaka, Japan |
2017 | “How's this?” Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan “Sleeping Stone” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2016 | “I AM HOMESICK” Pulp, Osaka/ Mikan no Ki・Gallery Space, Wakayama, Japan “CASH MOB Live Painting” Ajiro-hama, Wakayama, Japan |
2015 | “THE HOLE” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2014 | CAPSULE, Tokyo, Japan |
2012 | “Hahaha at Hyperspeed” Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan |
2011 | “Smelling Mildly” Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2010 | “TKG Project #2” Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan |
2009 | Wakayama Marina City, Wakayama, Japan “Naturally J” Art Jam Contemporary, Tokyo, Japan |
Group Exhibitions
2024 | “Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Award Commemorative Exhibition” Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall, Wakayama, Japan |
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2023 | “Dreamscape Estuary” Unit London, UK “KWAIDAN - Encounters with, Lafcadio Hearn” Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Matsue, Shimane, Japan “YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2022-2023” Okinawa, Japan |
2022 | “The Tale of Tales” G Museum, Nanjing, China “1010” Kousagisya Gallery, Kyoto, Japan |
2021 | “YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2021-2022” Okinawa, Japan “A Couple of: The Dual-mechanism of the New Generation of Asian Artists” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China “萬華鏡 KALEIDOSCOPE” YIRI ARTS, Taiwan |
2020 | “The Splendid Mountain” Hiro Hiro Art Space, Taipei City, Taiwan “Breaksenya in Hillside Terrace” Hillside Terrace, Tokyo, Japan “A triangular pyramid” @MEDIA SHOP | gallery2, Kyoto, Japan |
2019 | “24th HEART EXHIBITION” Tokyu Department Store Shibuya Main Store, Tokyo, Japan [traveled to multiple venues in Japan] “Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2017 | “AYA ITO & ATSUSHI KAGA IT HAPPENS TO BE” Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin, Ireland “Rokko Meets Art 2017” Mt. Rokko, Kobe, Japan |
2015 | “Really Realistic Reality” The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan |
2013 | “Cho-Kyoto 2013, Contemporary Art @ Today's Machiya in Kyoto” Today's Machiya in Kyoto, Model House Exhibition Place KYOMO, Kyoto, Japan “D Art Biennale 3rd exhibition” Daitec Sakae, Aichi, Japan |
2012 | “TOKYO FRONTLINE 2012” 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
2011 | “Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011” Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi, Tokyo, Japan “ROKKO MEETS ART 2011” Hyogo, Japan “Cho-Kyoto” Shosei-en Garden (Kikoku-tei, Higashihonganji), Kyoto, Japan |
2010 | “Resonance” Suntory Museum, Osaka, Japan “VOCA 2010” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, Japan “Bank of Kyoto Artist Support Program” The Bank of Kyoto Head Office, Kyoto, Japan |
2009 | “Montblanc Young Artist Patronage in Japan” Montblac GINZA, Tokyo, Japan “Art Award Tokyo” Gyoukou Chika Gallery, Tokyo, Japan ART ZONE, Kyoto, Japan |
2008 | “Sensuous” AD&A Gallery, Osaka, Japan |
2007 | gallery FUCHOAN, Kyoto, Japan “Art Camp in Kunst-Bau” Suntory Museum, Osaka, Japan |
2006 | Gallery IRORIMURA, Osaka, Japan |
Public Collections
Hotel Shinwaka Lodge, Wakayama, Japan
Oike Clinic Ladies Plaza, Kyoto, Japan
The Bank of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Japan
The JAPIGOZZI Collection, Japan
Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan
Montblanc Japan
Awards
2022 | Arida City Cultural Award, Distinguished Service Award |
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2021 | Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Cultural Encouragement Award |
2011 | Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011 shu uemura Prize, Judge's prize (Yuko Hasegawa) |
2009 | Art Award Tokyo, Runner-up Prize |
2007 | Art Camp in Kunst-Bau, Suntory Prize |

Solo Exhibition “Poetry of Genomeー Collaboration with Fujimura Family” Kawakyu Museum, Wakayama, Japan

Solo Exhibition “Poetry of Genomeー Collaboration with Fujimura Family”, Gallery NEXT, 6th floor, Takashimaya Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Group Exhibition “Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Award Commemorative Exhibition” Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall, Wakayama, Japan

Solo Exhibition “Unfortunately I love you” YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan

Group Exhibition “Dreamscape Estuary” Unit London, UK

Solo Exhibition “Aya Ito: Magic Spittle” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China

Group Exhibition “KWAIDAN – Encounters with, Lafcadio Hearn” Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Matsue, Shimane, Japan

“YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2022-2023” Okinawa, Japan

“Spiral Xmas Market 2022”

“The Tale of Tales” G Museum, Nanjing, China

Group Exhibition “1010” Kousagisya Gallery, Kyoto, Japan

“YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2021-2022” Okinawa, Japan

Group Exhibition “A Couple of: The Dual-mechanism of the New Generation of Asian Artists” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China

Group Exhibition “萬華鏡 KALEIDOSCOPE” YIRI ARTS, Taiwan

Solo Exhibition “Where is banana?” MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan

Solo Exhibition “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan

Group Exhibition “那座彩山 The Splendid Mountain” Hiro Hiro Art Space, Taipei City, Taiwan

Group Exhibition “Breaksenya in Hillside Terrace” Hillside Terrace, Tokyo

Solo Exhibition “New works of Aya Ito” Tokyu Plaza Shibuya 8F, Tokyo

Solo Exhibition “Rapid Rabbit hole” community salon Grenier, Tokyo

Group Exhibition “24th HEART EXHIBITION” Tokyu Department Store Shibuya Main Store, Tokyo

Solo Exhibition “Reflection” Pulp, Osaka

“How’s this?”

Group Exhibition “Rokko Meets Art 2017” Rokkosan Country House, Hyogo
