MEDEL GALLERY SHU NISEKO will host Yuta Okuda’s solo exhibition, “with gratitude,” from Saturday, January 1, 2025, to Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Yuta Okuda has actively exhibited his works in solo exhibitions and art fairs both in Japan and abroad. Beyond his artistic pursuits, he has achieved notable success in various collaborations, including advertising, packaging, editorial design, and fashion brands. This exhibition presents numerous paintings created between 2018 and 2024, offering visitors in Niseko an opportunity to experience Yuta Okuda’s artistic journey.

The representative series, “with gratitude,” which lends its name to the exhibition, centers on the theme of appreciating the often-overlooked everyday aspects of life while simultaneously conveying gratitude to the audience. In this series, the paintings are likened to floral offerings, featuring flowers as their motif. The works combine the spontaneity born from blending paints with the meticulous intentionality of penwork, symbolizing the transformation of unforeseen adversities or challenging situations into deliberate outcomes through one’s own willpower.

The series, “Children Watching You,” explores the idea that children grow by observing adults’ actions. The COVID-19 pandemic was a time when moral correctness and societal values underwent significant scrutiny and change. Fear and anxiety from rapid changes likely led many to act in ways they normally wouldn’t. In such chaotic times, adults must recognize that they are being observed by children, instilling a resolve to “live with integrity and set an example.” These works reflect the artist’s determination to embody these values and convey the message that the actions of parents influence not only their children but also future generations, encouraging thoughtful behavior.

The exhibition also presents works from the past, reflecting the profound shifts in our values brought about by the pandemic. These shifts profoundly impacted the artist’s practice, leading to days filled with intense feelings of despair and sorrow. Despite these challenging times, Okuda found solace and support in his cherished family. During these moments of connection, he realized the profound happiness that comes from having a family—a simple blessing that had previously been taken for granted. This realization redirected his focus away from lamenting lost opportunities and towards appreciating the blessings that still remain. He believes that this positive outlook is the key to living a fulfilling life. He expresses this gratitude through his paintings, likening them to bouquets of flowers. By presenting these “bouquets of gratitude” in his works, he hopes to infuse positivity and brightness into the lives of those who encounter them.

Yuta Okuda

We warmly invite you to view Yuta Okuda’s works, from his early pieces in 2018 to his latest creations, which are garnering increasing international acclaim.

Cooperation: MIZUMA ART GALLERY