A Diverse Collection of Works, From High School Pieces to Latest Creations, Gathered in One Place

Tomoho Ujita, who has not only produced illustration works but also consistently presented large-scale canvas pieces for over a decade, earning high praise from international art professionals. His solo exhibition at Mary Boone Gallery in New York in January 2014 was a great success, drawing significant attention not only within subculture but also in the contemporary art world.



The exhibition "Tomoho Ujita THE GREAT CIRCUS," Ujita's first major exhibition at a museum in Japan, is currently underway at the DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art in Sakura City, Chiba.



Approximately 100 diverse works are on display, including the latest pieces created for this exhibition, previously unpublished drawings, and large-scale works making their Japanese debut.




The exhibition begins with an abstract oil painting created by Ujita during his high school years, followed by a series of 30 graphite drawings never before publicly displayed, and paper works rendered in subtle, warm colors. The collection includes a group of small framed pieces inspired by newspaper inserts and sports papers, as well as large-scale stencil works created using stencils and spray paint with acrylic enamel.



Furthermore, a remarkably diverse range of works, almost unbelievable to have been created by a single artist, are displayed throughout the venue's spaces. These range from abstract pieces predominantly in blue to monochrome surreal portraits using gouache on canvas, created in recent years.



As most of the works are held by overseas collectors, Ujita commented, "It was quite difficult to borrow pieces that had already been sold, for personal reasons like 'they're hanging in my bedroom.'" He candidly shared his feelings about the exhibition: "Although I can see flaws, looking at it all together now, it's perfectly fine. Some pieces make me think, 'I couldn't paint this now,' or 'How did I manage to create this?' while others vividly remind me of a darker period, like 'I was really down back then.' It's a truly strange feeling."



Following this exhibition, which can be seen as a culmination of his career to date, Ujita is poised to embark on new artistic frontiers, making him an artist to watch closely. The "Tomoho Ujita THE GREAT CIRCUS" exhibition runs until December 24 (Wednesday) at the DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art.




"Tomoho Ujita THE GREAT CIRCUS" Exhibition

Venue | DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art

631 Sakato, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture

Dates | Sunday, August 31 - Wednesday, December 24

Opening Hours | 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM)

Closed | Mondays (except September 15, October 13, November 3, November 24), Tuesday, September 16, Tuesday, October 14, Tuesday, November 4, Tuesday, November 25

Admission | General ¥1200 (¥1000), Students & Seniors (65+) ¥1000 (¥800), Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students ¥500 (¥400)

* ( ) indicates group rates for 20 or more people.

http://kawamura-museum.dic.co.jp