Biography
Naomi Okubo (b. 1985, Tokyo, Japan)
Having earned her M.F.A from Musashino Art University in 2011, Naomi Okubo lived and worked in New York from 2017 to 2019 with a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government, and then continued her stay under the Yoshino Gypsum Foundation's Overseas Study Program. She returned to Japan in 2020. Her work has continued to exhibit in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.A., including Fou Gallery, New York (2024); GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo (2023); ELSA ART GALLERY, Taipei (2022); Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation, Tokyo (2022); Residency Unlimited, New York (2019); Official Japanese Ambassador Residence, New York (2017); Czech Center Art Gallery, New York (2017); Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2009) and Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto (2005). In 2024, she had her first solo exhibition in New York at Fou Gallery. She served as a residency artist at mh PROJECT, New York (2019); Residency Unlimited, New York (2017); Art Department of Halland Municipality, Sweden (2014). Obuko has undertaken commissioned work for prestigious publications such as Airbnb Magazine, DIE ZEIT, ARMUSELI, and ZEIT-magazine. Her work can also be found in such periodicals as Pen, Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, Financial Times, Juxtapoz Magazine, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Blanc Magazine. Her work is in the public collection of Hallands Konstmuseum (Sweden).
Naomi Okubo's artistic journey is deeply rooted in the exploration of delicate human relationships, particularly through the portrayal of young girls concealing their faces, inviting viewers to empathize with their inner worlds. In recent years, Okubo has explored the complexities of contemporary society by examining the roles of guise and decoration in human relationships, drawing from her own experiences. While her works don't convey overt messages, they intricately depict societal themes, often evoking a sense of duality and unease. Through beautifully painted decorations and recurring figures, Okubo prompts viewers to reflect on hidden societal issues within themselves and their communities.
EDUCATION
2023 M.F.A. Musashino Art University, Kodaira, Japan
2009 B.A. Musashino Art University, Oil Painting, Kodaira, Japan
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Naomi Okubo: Intimate Space, Entangling Threads, Fou Gallery, New York, June 8–August 3, 2024. (Digital Catalogue)
2023
Naomi Okubo: Uncertain Home, Transparent Body, GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo, 2023.
2022
Naomi Okubo: Closely Glazed Space, ELSA ART GALLERY, Taipei, 2022.
2021
Naomi Okubo: From here to somewhere, GALLERY MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo, 2021.
2018
Naomi Okubo: Piles of the Surface, ELSA ART GALLERY, Taipei, 2018.
2016
Naomi Okubo: THIS IS NOT MY LIFE, GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo, 2016.
2014
Naomi Okubo: A Dream Beyond Dreams, A.STYALE Gallery, Hong Kong, 2014.
Naomi Okubo: Where should I go?, Hamnmagasinet, Varberg, Sweden, 2014.
2013
Naomi Okubo: A Dream Beyond Dreams, H.P France Window Gallery, Tokyo, 2013.
Naomi Okubo: Have a Party Forever, GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo, 2013.
2011
Naomi Okubo: It Seems Like A Dream, Gallery MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo, 2011.
2010
Naomi Okubo: Marco? Polo!, Gallery MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo, 2010.
2008
Naomi Okubo: Tokyo Wonder Wall Award 2007, Skywalk Exhibition Space at Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo, 2008.
Naomi Okubo, Gallery MoMo, Tokyo, 2008.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Momopoly, Spiral building, Tokyo, 2024.
2022
Yoshino Art Connect, Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation, Spiral Building, Tokyo, 2022.
2019
Real Fairytale SPRIG/BREAK Art Show, Residency Unlimited, New York, 2019.
Real Fairytale, GALLERY MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo, 2019.
2018
MUSE MUSE, Czech Center Art Gallery, New York, 2018.
Potpourri, Neumann Wolfson Art, New York, 2018.
2017
Young art Taipei, Elsa Gallery, Taipei, 2017.
Emerging Artist Project, Official Japanese Ambassador Residence, New York, 2017.
On Illusion (Residency Unlimited and Artist Alliance Inc. ), Cuchifuritos Gallery, New York, 2017.
Inaugural Group Show, Neumann Wolfson Art, New York, 2017.
2014
XMAS' 14, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen, 2014.
2012
CONPLEX, Nihonbashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, 2012.
Interaction vol.1, GALLERY MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo, 2012.
2011
Regenerate, GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo, 2011
2009
Tokyo Wonder Wall 2007, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 2009.
2006
WONDER SEEDS 2007, Wonder Site Sibuya, Tokyo, 2006.
2005
Shell Art Award, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto, 2005.
RESIDENCIES
2019
mh PROJECT NYC Summer residency, New York, 2019.
Anaba Summer Residency, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A., 2019.
2017
Residency Unlimited, New York, 2017
2014
Artist in residence program, Art Department of Halland Municipality, Sweden, 2014.
MAGAZINE COMMISSIONS
Airbnb Magazine (Publisher)
DIE ZEIT, Germany (Publisher)
ARMUSELI
ZEIT-magazine (Publisher)
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2019
Yoshino Gypsum Co., Ltd. Overseas Research Program for Artists, 2019.
2016
Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists (2017-2019 in New York), 2016
2014
The 20th Holbein Scholarship, Tokyo, 2014.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Hallamds Konstmuseum, Sweden