勝間田万綾｜ Maaya Katsumata
final place

Katsumata’s paintings portray unadorned images of women with striking realism, confronting the gender biases deeply embedded in contemporary society. The figures she depicts are not captured in the “expressions meant to be seen,” but rather in intimate, domestic moments. Their gestures and expressions carry both the tension of being consumed as objects of gaze, and the inner conflict of unconsciously accepting that role. This ambivalence imbues her canvases with a quiet intensity.

Her use of light—reminiscent of a photographic flash—further sharpens the realism, accentuating both the presence of her subjects and the psychological distance between viewer and figure. This technique is a hallmark of her practice and a focal point of the exhibition.

In this new body of work, Katsumata delves deeper into themes of interiority and emotion. Following the passing of a close one at the end of last year, she began reflecting on death, emotion, and the ways in which feelings are processed. She describes the sensation of being alive while emotions seem to drift away, the unsettled process of handling feelings in times of upheaval, and the unresolved emotions that remain hidden in one’s depths. Surrounded by the natural world, such unseen emotions become invisible to others, yet persist within us. Through her work, she seeks not to dismiss these emotions, but to prepare them for release.

We warmly invite you to experience this powerful exhibition, where Katsumata transforms deeply personal reflections into paintings that resonate universally.