Yukimasa Okumura
Yapoo, the Human Cattle
June 20 (Thu) ~ July 20 (Sat) 2024 
Opening Reception: June 20 (Thu) 6-8PM　
＊Due to venue restrictions, we will decline to accept flowers.
 

Gallery Naruyama will introduce the work of Yukimasa Okumura, a painter who is also known as a graphic designer. Okumura's widely known designs are a hybrid style that combines his own Japanese style paintings with computer graphics. This exhibition will be composed of 13 Japanese paintings from his legendary “Yapoo the Human Cattle’’, works that are a stark contrast to his cool, minimalistic jacket designs for the likes of YMO, Kazuhiko Kato, and The Checkers. Come enjoy the classic facial expressions and and back coloring techniques used to bring this strange science fiction novel to life.


Yukimasa Okumura
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1947. Okumura studied Japanese painting from an early age, under the guidance of his father and aspired to become a Japanese painter. An encounter with graphic design during high school captured his heart and he decided to pursue a career in design despite his parents' opposition. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design Institute in 1969. Established The Studio Tokyo Japan (currently TSTJ Inc.) in 1977. He has expanded his field of activities to include art direction, advertising, books, and magazines for YMO, Tatsuro Yamashita, Checkers, etc. Since the 1980s, he has been presenting graphic works using Japanese painting style and Macintosh. He created an era with graphic design that utilized Japanese painting. In 2005, he became a professor at Joshibi University of Art and Design, Department of Visual Design, and since 2014 he has been a visiting professor. In 2023, he published “Yukimasa Okumura Works Collection” (Graphic-sha). While still working as a designer, he is also training in Japanese painting.
[Exhibition/Museum] Roppongi Crossing: New Perspectives on Japanese Art 2004 (Mori Art Museum, 2004), Tokyo Art Meeting VI "TOKYO" Showing the Invisible City (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2015), Japanorama: 1970 A new vision for art since 2017 (Pompidou Center Metz, 2017)