Biography
1992 Born in Tokyo, Japan
2015 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Oil Painting, Oil Painting
Lives and works in Tokyo, Japan
2019 The 58th Mignon Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2019 The 21st Seiryosha Florence Prize Exhibition (Seiryosha Museum / Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)
2019 The 13th Summer Association Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2019 30 Faces (REIJINSHA GALLERY)
2019 genuine (hanada fine art)
2019 The 56th Taiyo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2018 57th Mignon Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2018 by artists recommended by Fuyuhiko Yamamoto – CD Jacket Art Exhibition (Gallery ARK)
2018 55th Taiyo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2018 Art Fair Tokyo (Tokyo International Forum)
2018 Art Fair Philippines (Ayala Center Makati)
2018 2018Winter Mitsukoshi Art Special Selection (Mitsukoshi Department Store, Nihonbashi)
2017 The 44th Nichido Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2017 Court Gallery Kunitachi 23rd Anniversary Yuka Machida Exhibition (Court Gallery Kunitachi)
2017 60 Faces (REIJINSHA GALLERY)
2017 Showa-kai Exhibition Award Commemoration, Yuka Machida Solo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2017 The 54th Taiyo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2016 The 55th Mignon Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2016 ART TAIPEI (Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1)
2016 Art Fair Fukuoka (Hotel Okura Fukuoka 9F)
2016 The 2nd 50 Faces (REIJINSHA GALLERY)
2016 The 10th Summer Association Exhibition (Nichido Gallery Main Store)
2016 The 53rd Taiyo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2015 54th Mignon Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2015 Artist Today 2015 (Nichido Gallery)
2015 50 Faces (REIJINSHA GALLERY)
2015 The 52nd Taiyo Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2015 tetsuson2015 (3331 Arts Chiyoda)
2015 Graduation Works Exhibition of Five Art Universities in Tokyo (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
2015 The 50th Showa-kai Exhibition, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
2015 etteda2014 Korea x Japan Japan Exhibition, Bank ART gallery
2015 Musashino Art University Graduation Works Exhibition (Musashino Art University, Takanodai Campus)
2014 etteda2014 Korea×Japan Korea Exhibition (dongduk gallery)
2014 The 1st Mirai Exhibition (Nichido Gallery)
2014 The Moment Art and Eyes Meet (spiral Omotesando)
2014 KIREI (design festa gallery)
2014 tetsuson2014 (BankART)
2014 etteda2013 Korea×Japan Japan Exhibition (temporery contemporary Tsukishima)
2013 etteda2013 Korea×Japan Korea Exhibition (gallery won)
2013 The 31st Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition (The Ueno Royal Museum)
2013 Five Art Universities Exchange Exhibition (ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE)
2012 Five Art Universities Exchange Exhibition (on-campus exhibition)
2012 YOMOTACHI (On-campus exhibition)
2012 Goninten (Galleria Harajuku)
2011 The 7th World Painting Grand Prize Exhibition (Sekaido, Shinjuku)
2011 Hatsuyuu Exhibition (on-campus exhibition)
2019 The 21st Seiryosha Florence Prize, Honorable Mention
2015 The 50th Showa-kai Exhibition, Tokio Marine & Nichido Prize
2015 Musashino Art University, Graduation Work, Excellent Prize
2014 The 1st Future Exhibition, Grand Prix
2013 The 31st Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition, Honorable Mention
2011 The 7th World Painting Grand Prize Exhibition
Born
Education
Resides
Born in Kyoto, Japan
MFA, Department of Art Studies (Art Education), Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts
Lives and works in Ibaraki, Japan
Exhibitions
2019 BFA in Oil Painting, Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts and Crafts, Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
2021 MFA, Department of Art Studies (Art Education), Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts
Awards / Grants / Selected Exhibitions
2021 The 69th Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibition – Sogyō Prize (work acquired)
2020 TURNER AWARD 2020, Selected
2020 LIQUITEX THE CHALLENGE 2020 – Liquitex Prize (University Category)
2020 The 7th Mirai-ten – Exhibition of Selected Artists from Art Universities, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
2019 TURNER AWARD 2019, Selected
2019 Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program Scholarship
2019 The 6th Mirai-ten – Exhibition of Selected Artists from Art Universities, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Phenomenon and Phantasms – MU GALLERY, Tokyo
2024 Transformed Legacy – Kyoto Tsutaya Books Exhibition Gallery, Kyoto
2023 Evoke the Invisibles – Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Contemporary Gallery, Tokyo
2023 Synergistic Rhythms (ART MACAO 2023: Statistical Destiny) – Tap Seac Gallery, Macau
2023 Clash of Two Spirits – GINZA ATRIUM, Ginza Tsutaya Books, Tokyo
2022 New Scope of Paintings – Gallery Shikisai-sha, Tokyo
2022 Solo Exhibition – Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo
2021 Surge – Art Wall Gallery, Ginza Tsutaya Books, Tokyo
2021 Solo Exhibition – Frederick Harris Gallery, Tokyo American Club, Tokyo
2018 Solo Exhibition – Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Okinawa
Awards / Grants / Selected Exhibitions
2021 The 69th Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibition – Sogyō Prize (work acquired)
2020 TURNER AWARD 2020, Selected
2020 LIQUITEX THE CHALLENGE 2020 – Liquitex Prize (University Category)
2020 The 7th Mirai-ten – Exhibition of Selected Artists from Art Universities, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
2019 TURNER AWARD 2019, Selected
2019 Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program Scholarship
2019 The 6th Mirai-ten – Exhibition of Selected Artists from Art Universities, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
Yujiro Ueno Exhibition
In the Flow — The Fluidity of Existence
This exhibition marks my final solo show in my twenties. Under the perspective of understanding existence as “flow,” I have revisited the themes I have explored thus far and returned to their core in my recent works. Elements such as the ki inherent in living beings and their interactions with the external world have been a consistent focus for me, and in this exhibition, I sought to present them more clearly and with greater depth.
In my practice, I place importance on viewing existence not as something fixed, but as something in constant flow. While Western thought has long explored how to define and represent existence, Eastern philosophy tends to regard matter and spirit as inseparable, understanding all things as continuously changing within relationships. This way of thinking resonates deeply with my own lived experience.
I have primarily depicted animals and mythical creatures, attempting to capture the forces and flows they embody. Beings such as dragons and phoenixes have, since ancient times, served as vessels for human ideals and symbolic meanings, while also representing fluid, ever-changing existence. Their nature is closely tied to the Eastern worldview, in which opposing forces such as yin and yang interact and transform one another. Through these motifs, I aim to bring forth invisible forces onto the pictorial surface.
In my process, I emphasize brushstrokes, seeking to capture the inherent energy of my subjects through movement. In this exhibition, I have further expanded my techniques: in addition to pouring, scraping, and pressing paint—methods I have used previously—I have incorporated new approaches such as airbrushing and masking, constructing more layered and complex compositions.
The central work, Four Phases of the Dragon, is inspired by the stages of transformation of the dragon described in the Chinese classic I Ching—Hidden Dragon, Emerging Dragon, Flying Dragon, and Arrogant Dragon. These stages are often likened to the course of a human life: a period of latent potential, emergence, peak vitality, and eventual transition after reaching the extreme. For me, at a moment of reexamining my future path, this theme has been especially suggestive.
This exhibition, In the Flow — The Fluidity of Existence, is an attempt to visualize through painting the nature of existence as something that continuously emerges and transforms within flows—of ki, of circulating energy, of living movement, and of time itself.
Yujiro Ueno
We will hold an opening reception from 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 13.