MEDEL GALLERY SHU is pleased to present “mirage,” a solo exhibition by Rikito Kurosaki, from March 14 (Fri) to March 26 (Wed).

A graduate of Tama Art University, Kurosaki is a rising artist who explores the boundaries between illustration and painting, bringing characters inspired by anime and manga into the realm of contemporary art.

His work is characterized by delicate, ephemeral colors and intentional negative space, creating a fragile yet striking presence. At the same time, his fluid, expressive lines and dynamic compositions convey a sense of movement, reflecting the wavering identity of today’s youth. The characters he portrays, with their unique expressions and gestures, embody a shifting perspective on reality, making his work deeply captivating.

There exists an unbridgeable gap between the world within the canvas and the reality in which we live.
The more I am drawn to that world, the more I feel overwhelmed by the disparity between it and my own reality.

Even when I immerse myself in an idealized world, the moment I become aware of my existence in reality, the image begins to waver, lose its shape, and vanish—just like a mirage.

That is why I long to paint the world that can be seen from beyond the frame.

— Rikito Kurosaki