Shinya Azuma Japan, b. 1994

Born 1994, Shinya Azuma is a Japanese artist based in Kyoto, Japan. Graduate of the Master's program in Contemporary Art at the Kyoto University of Art and Design, Azuma's work draws from sketeches and images he encounters in daily life, natural sceneries, or even news programs, re-imagined on canvas with bold brush strokes. Unembellished, Azuma's paintings are doted for their peculiar color usage, dynamic texture, and ironic sense of humour — an unorthodox combination which seize the eyes in a state of perplexion.

The themes of Azuma's works draw from a wide range of issues such as wealth inequality to even personal sexual experiences, but all subjects capture various aspects of humanity. Like memes on social media, the distinctive type of humor which can be regarded as satire or self-deprecating sarcasm is one of the attractions of his works. In recent years, the artist has also started creating sculptures made of wood and ceramics, expanding his range of expression beyond two-dimensional paintings.

Azuma's works have attracted the attention of collectors and art professionals in Japan as early as when he was a graduate student. His recent solo exhibitions include: YOROSHIKU 夜露死苦, Galerie Marguo (Paris, FR 2024); Shame: Inevitable Man, COHJU contemporary art (Kyoto, JP 2022); Throw a knuckleball from the jungle, EUKARYOTE (Tokyo, JP 2021); Joint technique, Seibu Shibuya Art Gallery (Tokyo, JP 2020); and Human. Human? Human!, COHJU contemporary art (Kyoto, JP 2020). Azuma’s work is held in the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection, Japan, MIYASHITA PARK, and Japan and Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Japan.