Naomi Okubo
Naomi Okubo, Little Mama - Closely Glazed Space, 2024. Acrylic on raw canvas, 35.8 x 45.9 inches ©Naomi Okubo, courtesy of Fou Gallery
Naomi Okubo in her studio in Tokyo, courtesy of Gallery MoMo Tokyo and Fou Gallery New York
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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.
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).
Exhibitions
Selected News
“On Illusions”
The New Yorker
August 24, 2017
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