Represented▼
Agan Harahap
AIDA Makoto
AKAMATSU Nelo
Albert Yonathan Setyawan
AMANO Yoshitaka
AOYAMA Satoru
Ari Bayuaji
Ashley YK Yeo
Budi Agung Kuswara
DU Kun
EGUCHI Ayane
Entang Wiharso
Gilang Fradika
Heri Dono
HORI Kosai
I Made Djirna
IKEDA Manabu
indieguerillas
Iwan Effendi
Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba
KANEKO Tomiyuki
KARIYA Hiroshi
Kemalezedine
Ken + Julia YONETANI
KONDOH Akino
KUMAZAWA Mikiko
MAJIMA Naoko
MATSUKAGE
MIYANAGA Aiko
MIZUNO Rina
MORI Junichi
Namonaki Sanemasa
Nasirun
O JUN
OGINO Yuna
OKADA Hiroko
OKAMOTO Ellie
SHINTSUBO Kenshu
SONE Yutaka
TANADA Koji
TSUTSUI Shinsuke
USAMI Masahiro
Wianta, Made
YAMAGUCHI Ai
YAMAGUCHI Akira
YAMAMOTO Masao
YAMAMOTO Ryuki
KANEKO Tomiyuki
Kaneko continuously challenges himself to take on themes other nihonga (Japanese painting) artists do not attempt – like yokai (supernatural spirits), specters and deities – making him a truly unique presence even within the diverse field of contemporary nihonga. Having been interested in the unique traditional deities and yokai of particularly localities since his early childhood, and feeling that he could perceive some sort of unknown invisible beings within nature, Kaneko aimed to become a nihonga painter in order to be able to express that spiritual world. He lives and works in Yamagata today, where he explores not only depictions of yokai, specters, demons and deities that appear in myths, but also spiritual beings with their origins in Buddhist or Hindu theology.
1978 Born in Saitama, Japan
2009 Ph.D, Tohoku University of Art & Design, Yamagata
2006 MFA, Tohoku University of Art & Design, Yamagata
2003 BFA, Tohoku University of Art & Design, Yamagata
Lives and works in Yamagata
→ website
Gozu Tenno
2022
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, sacred water, foil on Japanese paper
460×480cm
©︎KANEKO Tomiyuki
Great Divine Locust
2023
mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, sacred water, foil on Japanese paper
460×480cm
©︎KANEKO Tomiyuki
Great Tiger: Long-Lasting Fortune in Battle
2023
mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, sacred water, shell powder, foil on Japanese paper
460×480cm
©︎KANEKO Tomiyuki
Apotropaic Daruma 1
2021
transparent watercolor, pen, foil on Shirakawa Daruma
25×28×36cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Messenger of Vaisravana
2020
Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen on Japanese paper
170×76cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Dawn of the Beast King
2019
mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, sacred water, foil on Japanese paper
460×480cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Great Dancing Tiger
2019
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, sacred water, shell powder, foil on Japanese paper
460x480cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Great Tiger: Pacifier of Fire and Wind
2019
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, foil on Japanese paper
194x486cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Musashino Dragon
2019
Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, pen, sacred water on Japanese paper
76x170cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Sagara Nagaraja
2018
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, gold paint on Japanese paper
230x640cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Gold Shone Flying Dragon
2018
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, foil on Japanese paper
230x480cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Mahesvara
2017
mineral pigments, Japanese ink, pen, foil on Japanese paper
230x640cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Fire-Eating Kasedori
2017
mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, pen, foil on used paper, Japanese paper
116.7x91cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Nakisawame
2017
Japanese ink, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, shell powder, foil on Japanese paper
91x72.7cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Kuramitsuha
2017
Japanese ink, pen on Japanese paper
230x640cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Takaokami
2017
Japanese ink, pen on Japanese paper
230x480cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Kuraokami
2016
Japanese ink, pen on Japanese paper
230x480cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Vajrabhairava
2014
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, foil on Japanese paper
227x640cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Tajikarao
2014
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, foil on Japanese paper
200x300cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Barong Macan
2013
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen, varnish, foil on used book, Japanese paper
227.3x181.8cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Guardian of the Flame
2009-2013
Mineral pigments, Japanese ink, acrylic, foil on Japanese paper
230x1,350cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Red Banas Pati Raja
2012
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, pen, foil on Japanese paper
227x298cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
One Born from the Ocean
2012
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, pen, foil on Japanese paper, used book
227x182cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Mystery of Earthworm
2012
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, Japanese ink, pen on silk
120x42.5cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
World Serpent
2012
Japanese ink, acrylic, pen, gold paint, shell powder on paper
227x546cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Kosame
2012
Mineral pigments, Japanese ink, acrylic, pen, cloth, silk, foil on Japanese paper
162x132cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Great King of the East
2011
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, pen, tea, foil on paper, used book
230x300cm
photo by MIYAJIMA Kei
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
White-Faced, Golden-Haired, Nine-Tailed Fox
2005
Mineral pigments, transparent watercolor, acrylic, pen foil on paper and used book
190x450cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Flames of the Old Battlefield
2005
Japanese ink, blue-gold powder, gold paint, shell powder on Japanese paper
180x420cm
©KANEKO Tomiyuki
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2023
“Dragon Deities and Kings” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
“Apotropaic Deities” Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP
“Asian Deities: Akino Fuku + Kaneko Tomiyuki” Akino Fuku Museum, Shizuoka, JP
Hitachinokuni Izumotaisha 30th Memorial Exhibition “Dream of the Cosmic Serpent” Sanki Hall, Hitachinokuni Izumotaisha, Ibaraki, JP
2021
“Apotropaic Tiger” Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP
2018
“Embodying Insanity” Yamagata Biennale 2018 related exhibition, Kaisendo Museum, JP
2017
“Asian Deities” Gallery Orin, Ibaraki, JP
“Savage Deities” Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP
2016
“Spirits, Deities and Buddhas Kitan” Sanno Art Campus 2016, Heishindo, Yamagata, JP
2015
“TOHOKU Yokai Painting” Sanno Art Campus 2015, Tsuruoka city, Yamagata, JP
“Spirits, Deities and Buddhas Kitan” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
2014
“Mysterium between Forest and Human” Yamatogawa Sake Brewery Northern Climate Museum, Fukushima, JP
2013
“Yokai Kitan ll” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
2011
“Yokai Substantiations” Mizuma Action, Tokyo, JP
“Yokai Kitan” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
2006
“Nihon den Dai Yokai Painting” Kamiyama City Sports and Cultural Center, Yamagata, JP
“Yokai painting” Branch school of former 3rd junior high school, Yamagata, JP
Group Exhibitions
2025
“META 2025” Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, JP
2024
AWT FOCUS “Earth, Wind, and Fire: Visions of the Future from Asia” Okura Museum of Art, Tokyo, JP
Yamagata Biennale 2024, Sukawa Onsen Shrine (Zao Onsen), Tohoku University of Art & Design, JP
“Zipangu – Contemporary artists who have run through the Heisei era” Saga Prefectural Art Museum, JP
Fukushima Biennale 2024 “Shirakawa Art FUGETSU” Shirakawa Public Library, JP
“Yokai −Experession of Mononoke, From the Edo Period to Today−” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“Fellow Travelers of the Canvas, A Perspective on Contemporary Art of Japan from the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection” Yamagata Museum of Art, JP
2023
“ART de Cha Cha Cha −Exploring the DNA of Japanese Contemporary Art−” from the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection, WHAT MUSEUM, Tokyo, JP
2022
Fukushima Biennale 2022 “Shirakawa Art FUGETSU” Ryukoji Temple, JP
“Yokai and Mononoke Now Past” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“If there were no Japanese Painting in Japan: version of Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum” Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, JP
“Shuri Castle Reconstruction Charity Dai Shisa Exhibition” Hiltopia Art Square, Hilton Tokyo, JP
“Panem et Circenses Exhibition” Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP
“Kashinfu, Artist Group Kaze -Epilogue-” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP (traveled to Kyoto, Yokohama)
2021
“UKIYO-E THEATER from Paris” Kadokawa Culture Museum 1F Grand Gallery, Saitama, JP
“The Stories of Yokai and Mononoke” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“META” Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, JP
2020
Fukushima Biennale 2020 “Shirakawa Art FUGETSU” Josenji Temple, Fukushima, JP
“Seven Artists” Matsuzakaya Art Museum, Aichi, JP
2019
“Takahashi Collection” Tsuruoka Art Forum, Yamagata, JP
“NEW VIEW” Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store, Osaka, JP (traveled to Fukuoka, Tokyo)
“META – Wild Card of Japanese Paintings” Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, JP
2018
“Embodying Insanity” Yamagata Biennale 2018 related exhibition, Kaisendo Museum, JP
“Mountainous 100 Stories –Yamagata Biennale 2018” Tohoku University of Art & Design, Yamagata, JP
“The 7th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Nihonga Award Exhibition” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, JP
2017
“Yamagata made –Japanese painting-” Yusokan, Yamagata, JP
“SERPENTIform” Art Science Museum, Singapore (traveled to Mori Arts Center Gallery, Tokyo and Chengdu Museum, China)
“The POETRY : Open Theatre 2017” Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT), JP
“The 5th KASHINFU, ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Small Works Exhibition” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP (traveled to Kyoto, Osaka)
2016
“19th DOMANI: Tomorrow” The National Art Center, Tokyo, JP
“The 5th ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Exhibition” Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery B, JP
“Hijiori no Hi” Hijiori Onsen, Yamagata, JP
“AYAKASHI” palaborica-bis, Tokyo, JP
“OSOREISM” Hajimari Art Center, Fukushima, JP
“Exposing Ikai – The Different World: Visitors in Past and Contemporary Art” Akita Museum of Art, JP
“Yokai and Literature / Art” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“Imago Mundi” Pratt Institute, New York, U.S.A.
“Impacts! HAZUMI” Gallery Orin, Ibaraki, JP
2015
“Is it possible “TOHOKU-GA?” –Contemporary Art Gallery for Hypothetical State of Tohoku–” T-Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP
“Further Towards the Future” Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
“Yokai and Literature / Art, -The History and the Beauty of MONONOKE Expression-” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“The 3rd KASHINFU, ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Small Works Exhibition” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo, JP (traveled to Kyoto, Osaka)
2014
“The 3rd ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Exhibition” Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery B, JP
“Impacts! 勢み Japan Art Festival” Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, U.S.A.
“Takashimaya Fantasy Museum” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP (traveled to Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Nagoya, Shinjuku)
“Yokai and Literature / Art” Yamadera Basho Museum, Yamagata, JP
“The 2nd KASHINFU, ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Small Works Exhibition” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo (traveled to Osaka, Kyoto)
“Archipelagoes” Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2013
“The 2nd ARTIST GROUP, KAZE Exhibition” Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery B, JP
“Is it possible “TOHOKU-GA?”” ARTZONE, Kyoto, JP
“Imago Mundi” Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice, Italy
“Today’s sumi” The Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo, JP
2012
“Look East!” Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
“ZIPANGU” The Niigata Bandaijima Art Museum, Niigata, JP
2011
“Meta ll 2011” Kanagawa Kenmin Hall Gallery, Kanagawa, JP
“Seven Dilemmas” Mizuma & One Gallery, Beijing, China
“WABISABI” Oroshimachi ART FESTA 2011, Noh-BOX, Miyagi, JP
“Meta X 2011” Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
2010
“Meta ll 2010” Kanagawa Kenmin Hall Gallery, JP
“Meta X 2010” Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X, Tokyo, JP
2008
The 7th Suga Tatehiko Grand-prix Exhibition” Kurayoshi Museum, Tottori, JP
“Myth in us” Total Museum, Seoul, Korea
2007
“The 16th Annual Scholarship Recipient Art Exhibition” The Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo, JP
“Light and Darkness” Gallery 1/f, Tokyo, JP
2003
“OUROBOROS” AXIS Gallery, Tokyo, JP
Awards and Fellowship
2018
“The 7th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Nihonga Award” prize winner, JP
2015
“Japanese Government Overseas Study Programme for Artists” Siem Reap, Cambodia
2007
“Painter patronized by the clan Heisei Kamiyama” Yamagata, JP
2006
“Sato International Cultural Scholarship Foundation” JP
“The 4th Kwai Encouraging Award” Kadokawa Shoten, JP
Art Fairs
“Art Dubai” Madinat Jumeirah (2025)
“Art Mumbai” Mahalaxmi Racecourse (2024)
“Tokyo Gendai” PACIFICO Yokohama (2024)
“India Art Fair” NSIC Exhibition Grounds (2024)
“Art Basel Hong Kong” Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (2025, 2024, 2023, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013)
“Art Fair Tokyo” Tokyo International Forum (2021, 2018/solo)
“Taipei Dangdai” Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (2019/solo)
“Chokyoto artkyoto” The Museum of Kyoto, 5F Gallery (2015)
“Art HK” Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (2012)
“Art Taipei” Taipei World Trade Center (2011)
