NEWS
Threshold of Emergence — New Solo Exhibition at Tokyo International Gallery, Tennoz
SEPTEMBER 08, 2026In recent years, Takaya's interest has deepened from the expression of color itself toward the behavior of the materials that give rise to it. How matter reveals different phases — and transforms the experience of seeing — within its relations to light, environment, viewpoint, and body: this is the question that runs through her current practice. The "threshold" named in the exhibition's title is not a simple boundary. It is a critical site that appears in the moment just before meaning takes hold, or in the passage through which dissolved meaning begins to reconstitute itself into another order. We invite you to shift your position before the works, yield to the conditions of light, and encounter a pictorial space that emerges differently each time. Dates: Wednesday, September 9 – Saturday, October 24, 2026 Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and Holidays (Tuesdays by appointment) Venue: Tokyo International Gallery Address: TERRADA ART COMPLEX II 2F, 1-32-8 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 18:00 – 21:00(Free admission / No reservation required) Contact: info@tokyointernationalgallery.co.jp
Solo Exhibition ”Within Transience” in Ginza
MARCH 08, 2026Ginza Mitsukoshi Main Building, 7th Floor GalleryArtist’s attendance: To be confirmedThis exhibition will feature new works from Towa Takaya’s highly acclaimed Sakura series, which has become one of the artist’s most iconic and beloved bodies of work.Capturing fleeting moments of beauty that dwell within the flow of time, the exhibition presents a striking selection of cherry blossom works that evoke both transience and quiet intensity.In addition, at the Chandelier Sky space, a wristwatch created through a collaborative project with the Japanese watch brand MINASE will also be on display. This timepiece was developed over the course of approximately one year and embodies a shared exploration of craftsmanship and the perception of time.We invite you to experience these works, each offering a contemplative encounter with the passage of time, on this special occasion.Within Transience invites viewers to attune themselves once again to the subtle presences and cycles that quietly exist within nature. Through phenomena that resist fixed form—light, color, and fleeting sensations—the flow of time between nature and human perception gently emerges. 〈Mizuha〉, imbued with the memory of water; 〈Moss〉, as an accumulation of time; and 〈Cherry Blossoms〉, which bloom brilliantly only to fall—each series shifts in form while remaining interconnected, reflecting the changing aspects of a world in constant motion. The cherry blossom works presented in 2022, along with Ranman (2025), capture moments in which the radiance of life and its fragility appear simultaneously. When we place ourselves within the midst of change, we may, for the first time, come into contact with a vivid sense of being alive here and now. The light that rises from within fluctuation and impermanence becomes a quiet blessing toward life itself, gently accompanying the viewer’s own time. This exhibition is conceived as a space in which such a quiet blessing may come into awareness.
Solo Exhibition ”Timelessness” in Osaka
FEBRUARY 24, 2026Up coming exhibition2026.2.25 (Wed.) ー 3.9 (Mon.) HANKYU MENS Contemporary Art Gallery *Artist Attendance 2.25 (Wed.)
Collaboration with Japanese Watch Brand MINASE: "Yusai Dials" Series Announcement
SEPTEMBER 16, 2025Towa Takaya has announced a new JAPAN ART COLLECTION in collaboration with MINASE (KYOWA Co., Ltd.), a Japanese watch brand based in Akita Prefecture: the "Yusai Dials" (悠彩文字盤) series. For this collection, Takaya hand-paints each individual watch dial using the same techniques and pigments as her painting practice. The name "Yusai" combines two concepts: "Yuu" (悠), evoking the unhurried, eternal depth of time as a gently cyclical experience, and "Sai" (彩), referring to the layered, shifting quality of colour that changes with light and environment. Together they give rise to a world in which art — expressing time and phenomena — co-creates with the mechanical watch. The works were developed over approximately one year of research into new modes of expression, drawing on both Eastern and Western aesthetic sensibilities and inspired by the distinctive cultural traditions and craft of Japan. Released to mark the 20th anniversary of the MINASE brand, the collection comprises three models. SEVEN WINDOWS — Otherwise Than Being FIVE WINDOWS — Mid Pluralist Garden Venue: Ginza Mitsukoshi, New Building 4th Floor, Watch Section Exhibition & Pre-order Period: 17–30 September 2025 (From 3 October 2025, the collection continues at the MINASE flagship store "K CRAFTWORK JAPAN" in Akihabara.) Product details: https://minase-watches.com/yusai
Joining to the 3rd Japan International Arts Festival 2025 (Japan International Expo, Osaka, Kansai Expo site EXPO Messe ‘WASSE’)
JUNE 29, 2025Up coming exhibition3rd Japan International Arts Festival Venue: EXPO Messe ‘WASSE’, Osaka, Kansai Expo site Dates: 2 - 6 July 2025 Booth: B-6 & 7 We are pleased to present a new exhibition of meditative, immersive paintings by artist Towa Takaya. Celebrated both in Japan and overseas, her distinctive pictorial spaces—defined by mystical colors and subtly shifting vibrations—invite deep, contemplative viewing. Drawing on meticulous research into traditional Western painting methods and collected pigments by her own based on the field reach , Takayaʼs unique and original techniques summon shimmering light that echoes our inner landscapes and evokes the vast cycles of the Earth, and indeed the cosmos. We warmly invite you to experience this remarkable body of work. ______________________ About Japan International Art Festival - Organiser - Yumeshima New Industry and City Creation Organisation - Sponsors - <Platinum Sponsor> Hankyu Corporation <Gold Sponsor> Omron Corporation / Iwai Cosmo Securities / Takenaka Corporation <Silver Sponsor> Haseko Corporation / Union Corporation - Supported by - Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City / Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry / Kansai Association of Corporate Executives ‘Osaka-Kansai Expo’ Kyoto Support Council / Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Kansai Economic Federation / Japan Association for the International Exposition, 2025 / Consulate-General of Kansai / With the 2025 Japan International Exposition, The Coalition of Leaders for Creating the Future Society of the Region / Consulate-General of Canada in Nagoya / Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Osaka / Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Osaka / Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka / Consulate-General of the Mongolian State in Osaka / Consulate-General of India in Osaka-Kobe / Consulate-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Osaka-Kobe / Consulate-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka / Consulate-General of the Philippines in Osaka Consulate-General of the Philippines in Osaka / Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands / Consulate-General of Switzerland in Osaka / Italian Cultural Institute - Osaka / Consulate-General of Hungary in Osaka / Consulate-General of the United States in Osaka-Kobe / British Consulate-General / Consulate-General of France in Kyoto - Special cooperation - World Heritage Site Shingon Omuroha Ninna-ji Temple / World Heritage Site To-ji Temple (Kyo-o Gokoku-ji Temple), head temple of the Shingon sect / Shogo-in Monzeki, head temple of the Honzan Shugen sect / Kennin-ji Temple, head temple of the Rinzai sect / Senyuji Temple, head temple of the Senyuji sect of the Shingon sect / Ryukoku-zan Honganji Temple (Nishi Honganji Temple), head temple of the Honganji sect of the Jodo Shin sect / World Heritage Site Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple, head temple of the Tendai sect
Artwork “ Immortal landscape : Fountain” < Exhibition and collection at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University >
JUNE 25, 2025The work "Immortal landscape: Fountain" by Towa Takaya has been accepted into the collection of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU). An unveiling ceremony was held at the university on 26 June 2025. This piece was created during a residency in Beppu, Japan. In his pursuit of the experience of nature, Jinen, Eien Takaya visited Beppu and experienced the land's overwhelming energy : geothermal heat and erupting springs. This piece was created after that experience, and the mud collected from the naturally gushing Blood Pond Hell has been refined to create the colour of the paint. At a time of fragmentation, climate change, and the accelerating development of AI technology, Towa Takaya dares to reconnect with nature and its phenomena. Through her dialogue with materials, she continues to create works that preserve the 'memory of the land' and 'traces of life' inherent in the materials themselves. This work represents Takaya's self-made paints, which are made from soil, plants, and pigments derived from cosmetics. This process is an attempt to reconnect his body with the world through art, and it is a way of rethinking the relationship between 'materials' and 'physicality'. The resulting piece, Immortal landscape: Fountain , explores the theme of nature (jinen) as 'something invisible to the eye yet certainly existing', offering viewers an immersive experience that makes them feel part of the great cycle of nature.Exhibition location: Green Commons Sakura Lounge, College of Sustainability and Tourism, Asia Ritsumeikan Pacific University *The public is welcome to view the exhibition.
Solo Exhibition "Being and transfiguration beyond nothingness " at ASTER Curator Museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa
JUNE 06, 2025Up coming exhibition[Exhibition Outline] Towa Takaya Solo Exhibition ‘Being and Transfiguration beyond nothingness’ Dates ｜7 Jun (Sat) - 29 Jun (Sun), 2025 Closed｜Mon. Closed Tuesdays Venue ｜ASTER Curator Museum Hours ｜11:00 - 18:00 Location ｜1-99 Toiyacho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0061, Japan Admission ｜ ¥500 (incl. tax) ** Free for students Special page for individual exhibitions:*This exhibition will be held concurrently with the exhibition “Gutai Abstraction”, curated by Hiroki Yamamoto.Until now, I have kept the meditative and phenomenal experience of swaying and immersion in my work, and through WHYNOT's activities I started to visit the city of Suzu in Ishikawa Prefecture, following an exhibition with the Suzu pottery artists. The concept of nature (jinen), which had been vague to me, became more physically aware and recognisable through my encounters with Pearl Island. At the same time as feeling a sense of awe towards nature, I also re-recognised the smallness of my own self as a living, breathing being. I tried to capture the overwhelming energy of the earth in my work. In my recent works, which are painted with my fingers using the sand and soil of Suzu as pigments, the distance between the “act” of painting and the “earth” grows closer. I hope you will take this opportunity to see the expression of the pictorial space that has developed through my involvement with Suzu. <On the solo exhibition: Being and transfiguration beyond nothingness>We do not know when and where ‘it’ or ‘I’ is born. Creation as an experience of consciousness and perception, and the transformation of matter experienced through the self-production of pigments, is an act of examining the relationship between human existence and things, accompanied by physical awareness. In the resulting flat space, a more intrinsic and universal perception of the world develops, which would be impossible to represent in language. There is a sense of something infinitely expansive, or, on the other hand, of simply standing in front of silence and nothingness. My perception of “now, this life”, which I sensed when I set foot on the land of Suzu, became more fluid with the transformation of materials in the course of creation. This led to a transformation of my perception of time and space, as if the ephemeral and the eternal were multilayered and reversible. I would be happy if these experiences, crystallised in the form of artworks, could be viewed as an exhibition and, as “themselves”, could be newly or come to life again.Towa Takaya ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ Concurrent exhibition curated by Hiroki Yamamoto ‘Guchusho - neither concrete nor abstract, or concrete and abstract’ Dates ｜12 Apr (Sat) - 27 Jul (Sun), 2025 Closed Mon. Closed Tuesdays Venue ｜ASTER Curator Museum Hours ｜11:00 - 18:00 Location ｜1-99 Toiyacho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0061, Japan Museum official website: https://aster-g.com/Towa Takaya was born in Japan and studied art at university in London, UK. Having received an art education in Europe, which emphasises social context and the multi-layered nature of concepts, Takaya is highly aware of the political nature of her work. In addition, she is an avid adopter of new technologies. At the same time, it is interesting to note her deep interest in universal entities and traditional techniques. Takaya's diverse activities include the Blue Series (2017-), which is the result of her spiritual search for the meaning of death and life, but her paintings, which never remain in one place but continue to move, are a mixture of contradictory abstraction and figuration.Hiroki Yamamoto (Cultural researcher) * To read his review of Takaya's solo exhibition “Being and transfiguration beyong nothingness ”,
solo exhibition " phenomena of the infinite"
MARCH 04, 2025Towa Takaya Solo Exhibition Venue 1: Ginza Mitsukoshi Main Bldg. 7th Floor GalleryFor inquiry : Ginza Mitsukoshi (Tell +81-3-3562-1111) Towa Takaya Born in 1992, Tokyo, Japan. Graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London.Her paintings, characterized by fluid lines and enigmatic colours, emerges from cross-disciplinary exploration of space, time and existence. She creates her work using handcrafted pigments derived from soil, plants and cosmetic ingredients sourced both in Japan and abroad.The exploration of a delicate spectrum of colours and rich tonal gradations creates a unique depth, transporting the viewers beyond the everyday and into realm of the spirit.The depth invites the viewer into a spiritual space detached from ordinary life.Additionally, her creative process integrates studies drawing systems in virtual reality and collaboration with technology from various fields. In 2022, she conducted a joint research with the Shiseido MIRAI Technology Institute, exploring the use of cosmetic raw materials in her work..Exhibitions & Achievements 2009 Selected for the 83rd National Exhibition, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan2012 Completed Foundation Diploma, Central Saint Martin's College, University of the Arts London2014 Selected for 2015 Completed Bachelor of Arts, Goldsmiths, University of London2017 Young Creator's Award 2017, Selected Prize, MI Gallery, Osaka, Japan2023
A joint research project has been launched by contemporary artist Towa Takaya and Dr Takehito Kato, Professor of Engineering at Oyama National College of Technology.
OCTOBER 06, 2024A new project by contemporary artist Towa Takaya and Takehito Kato (Professor at Oyama National College of Technology, Technical Director of SOLAR POWER PAINTERS Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Energy Education, a non-profit organisation) has now been launched and will begin collaborative production. *Photo: Towa Takaya and Mr Kato after the first collaborative experiment at Koyama National College of Technology on 29 July 2024.● Project Overview Valuing the universal aesthetic sense of ancient Japan, Takaya has been creating works in Japan and abroad using his own original paints made from earth, plants and cosmetic materials, exploring the roots of the space in which he exists, and seeking an immersive space in which the viewer can feel as 'part of the great natural cycle', including the universe, in front of his works. Towa Takaya has explored the roots of the space in which she exists. Incorporating the earth and natural objects into her creative process, Takaya has hesitated about a sustainable form of her own art in this time of increasing need for further consideration of the global environment on a global scale. While wondering if it would be possible to create a new cycle not only through the light produced by the colours, but also through the artworks themselves, Takaya met Mr Kato, who was working on the research and development of photovoltaic ink, which can generate electricity simply by being applied. The project has now begun the joint research and production of artworks using "power-generating ink". This is the first time that art and science have worked together to create artworks that generate light and illumination without the use of electricity through the use of 'power-generating ink'. At present, prototypes using the Power Generating Ink have already begun, and it has been confirmed that electricity is generated when sunlight shines on the drawn images.*Photo: Experiments with different brush strokes and solar-powered ink by Towa Takaya We are currently working towards the goal of presenting the results of our production from 2025 onwards. In the future, we intend to implement the results of this joint research in areas such as support for areas affected by natural disasters. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact: <Profile of Towa Takaya > Takaya was born in Tokyo in 1992. Ms. Takaya holds a degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and is currently based in Tokyo. She creates works using colour materials that she has manufactured herself from land, plants and cosmetic ingredients sourced from Japan and abroad. His unique approach to colour exploration, encompassing subtle nuances and rich tonal gradations, invites the viewer into a contemplative space that transcends the ordinary. From 2019 onwards, he will spearhead the WHYNOT project, which aims to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between artists and individuals engaged in the field of art. She is currently engaged in ongoing initiatives to foster solidarity and community-building through art.Artist official website: <Profile of Dr. Takehito Kato> Born 1979 Doctorate in research on dye-sensitised solar cells at the Kyushu Institute of Technology. He subsequently joined Sumitomo Chemical Co. From 2012 onwards, he has been engaged in research and development of coating-type environmental energy generators at the Oyama National College of Technology, while concurrently directing the training of engineers. Mr. Kato is currently engaged in the management of the NPO Energy Education, with the objective of disseminating and advancing recurrent education in environmental technology on a global scale. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in the social implementation of coating-type power generation technology through Solar Power Painters Inc.Dr Kato Laboratory HP: