Biography - aya kawato

EN / JP

川人綾 / Aya Kawato

Aya Kawato was born in Nara in 1988. Along with her family she later moved to Kyoto, where she grew up. Influenced by her father, who is a neuroscientist, she was exposed to the truth that we see this world through our brain. After studying traditional Japanese textile in Kyoto, she moved to Tokyo to study at Tokyo University of the Arts, wherein she participated in an exchange program at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts in Paris; she further went on to complete the doctoral program in Intermedia Art in 2019. In line with the research theme of “Controlled and Uncontrolled,” she has been focusing to create abstract grid paintings. In these paintings, she combines the knowledge and expertise that she has gained through her background in Japanese traditional textile with the findings of the modern neuroscientific studies. She has been awarded with many art prizes, including that of the Grand Prix at Rêver 2074, the art competition co-hosted by COMITÉ COLBERT and Tokyo University of the Arts in 2017, and the Nomura Art Prize in 2018.

Education
2019 Ph.D, Intermedia Art, Graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts
2015 MFA, Intermedia Art, Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts
2014 École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris, Student Exchange Program
2011 BFA, Textile Course, Faculty of Art, Kyoto Seika University

Solo Exhibitions
2019
Controlled / Uncontrolled | Pierre-Yves Caër Gallery / Paris, France

2018
Aya Kawato Solo Exhibition | imura art gallery / Kyoto, Japan

2017
C/U_CCLXXX-CXC_(w)_I | Shonandai MY Gallery / Tokyo, Japan

Group Exhibitions
2019
Sukikei / New View – Contemporary art in Japan at a time of transition – | Hankyu Umeda Main Store / Osaka, Japan
Drawing: Manner | Takuro Someya Contemporary Art / Tokyo, Japan

2018
Tokyo University of the Arts Doctoral Program Final Exhibition 2018 | Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto Nippon Festival 2018 | Kitano Tenmangu・JR Kyoto Isetan / Kyoto, Japan

2017
Collect 2 | Micheko Galerie / Munich, Germany
Rêver 2074 | The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo, Japan
Small Works – selected by Masaharu Makuuchi / ex-chamber museum | Art Space Morgenrot / Tokyo, Japan
The 13th Gunma Biennale for Young Artists | The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma / Gunma, Japan

2016
Shonandai Project WILL | Shonandai MY Gallery / Tokyo, Japan
The 33th Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program | Eye of Gyre / Tokyo, Japan
Atlas 2016 | Tokyo University of the Arts, Toride Campus / Ibaraki, Japan
Independent 2016, Tagboat Art Fes | Hulic Hall / Tokyo, Japan
The 11th Tagboat Award | IID Gallery, Institute of Design / Tokyo, Japan
The 30th Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program | Eye of Gyre / Tokyo, Japan

2015
The 10th Geidai Art Plaza Awards Exhibition | Geidai Art Plaza, Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Design Week 2015, 100 Creators Exhibition | In front of the Meijijingu Gaien Memorial Picture Gallery / Tokyo, Japan
SICF16 | Spiral Hall / Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo University of the Arts The 63rd Graduation Works Exhibitions | Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo, Japan

2014
WIP 2014 | Tokyo University of the Arts, Toride Campus / Ibaraki, Japan
You’ve gone too far | Atelier Vilmouth, École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris / Paris, France

2012
Preliminary Review Exhibition 2012 | Tokyo University of the Arts, Toride Campus / Ibaraki, Japan
The 16th Flag-art Exhibition in Gifu | Kanda-machi street / Gifu, Japan

2011
Atlas 2011 | Tokyo University of the Arts, Toride Campus / Ibaraki, Japan
Kyoto Seika University Graduation Works Exhibition 2011 | Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art / Kyoto, Japan
Ensemble of Yuko Hasegawa + 16 Students | Kyoto Seika University Gallery Fleur / Kyoto, Japan

2010
Wakuwaku Kyoto Project | Former Rissei Elementary School / Kyoto, Japan
9 | Shin-bi / Kyoto, Japan

2008
1968+40 Mode Make-up | Kenninji / Kyoto, Japan

Art Fairs
2019
artKYOTO 2019 | Nijo-jo Castle / Kyoto, Japan
Art Fair Tokyo 2019 | Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo, Japan

2018
Asia Now 2018 | 9 Avenue Hoche / Paris, France
Art Fair Tokyo 2018 | Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo, Japan

2017
KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa 2017 | Kumu Kanazawa the Share Hotels / Kanazawa, Japan
FIAC 2017 | Grand Palais / Paris, France
Art on Paper 2017 | Pier 36 / New York, USA

Collections
CHANEL K.K., Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto Yura Hotel Mgallery by Sofitel, Kyoto, Japan
LONGCHAMP / La Maison Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan

Awards
2018
Nomura Art Prize 2018

2017
Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program Scholarship 2017
Rêver 2074, Grand Prix
The 13th Gunma Biennale for Young Artists, Finalist

2016
Japan Arts Foundation Scholarship 2016
Independent 2016 Tagboat Art Fes, Shonandai MY Gallery Prize, Katsumi Yamato Gallery Prize
The 11th Tagboat Award, Tomio Koyama Prize
The 33th Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program, Finalist
The 30th Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program, Finalist

2015
The 10th Geidai Art Plaza Awards Exhibition, Finalist

2012
The 16th Flag-art Exhibition in Gifu, Finalist