Akira YOSHIDA
Statement
Akira YOSHIDA (born 1976, Kanagawa, Japan) graduated from Tama Art University with a Bachelor in Fine Art in 2002. He is renowned to make sculptures with fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) painted over by airbrush.His painting skill by using airbrush is so exquisite and precise that it looks as if the patterns have been printed on the sculpture. His works are visually "kawaii"- pretty and cute ,and follow pop aesthetics standards. However, the themes of his works ironically resolve around problems of contemporary society. This significant contradiction of the appearance and concept gives YOSHIDA's works unique and charming quality. He was commissioned by MTR, the biggest railway company in Hong Kong to create public art works for the City One Station (第一城), and by Nishi Ginza Chance Center, the most popular lottery stand in Japan to create a public art work in a form of Japanese traditional welcoming cat ‘MANEKINEKO’. ⇒ Yoshida's blog
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BIOGRAPHY
Biography
- 1976
- Born in Kanagawa, Japan
Education
- 2002
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan
EXHIBITIONS & ART FAIRS
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2018
- “AKIRA YOSHIDA SOLO EXHIBITION”, YUKARI ART MINI, Tokyo, Japan
- “play with soft toys”, HIROUMI, Tokyo, Japan
- 2016
- “Akira Yoshida solo exhibition”, Hideharu Fukasaku Gallery Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan
- 2011
- “Akira Yoshida solo exhibition”, YUKARI ART, Tokyo, Japan
- 2008
- “Merry Christmas in Buddhist Altar Room”, YUKARI ART CONTEMPORARY, Tokyo, Japan
- 2007
- “Inu Hariko”, Gallery ES, Tokyo, Japan
- 2006
- “A serial sculpture”, Gallery ES, Tokyo, Japan
- 2005
- “Akira Yoshida solo exhibition”, Makii masaru fine arts, Tokyo, Japan
- “A serial sculpture”, Gallery ES, Tokyo, Japan
- “Personal MIKOSHI”, Brick-one, Tokyo, Japan
- 2004
- “King hamster’s counterattack”, Makii masaru fine arts, Tokyo, Japan
- “JFL”, Gallery ES, Tokyo, Japan
- 2002
- “carbon×sushioke”, Makii masaru fine arts, Tokyo, Japan
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2021
- “KEICHITSU WO MACHIWABITE” , Takashimaya, Tokyo, Japan
- “RAN SHO HOU SHU” , Gallery MUMON, Tokyo, Japan
- “Perpetual Gaze” , MIZUMA ART Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2020
- “Kudo+ArtOrque” , Brick-one, Tokyo, Japan
- “RAN SHO HOU SHU” , Gallery MUMON, Tokyo, Japan
- “Two ways towards...” , ROPPONGI HILLS A/D Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2019-17
- “042 art area project Super Open Studio” ,Sagamihara,Japan
- 2018
- “Between cafe and sculpture” ,Yamagata Biennale 2018,Yamagata, Japan
- 2017
- “treasure hunting” , Takashimaya, Tokyo, Japan
- “DANDANS Archive Exhibition” , Aso’s private residence, Tokyo, Japan
- 2014
- “Sweet Paradox” , Mizuma Gallery Singapore
- 2013
- “042 art area project 2013 Super Open Studio” ,Sagamihara,Japan
- 2011
- “RE: 2011”, Galeria Punto, Tokyo, Japan
- “ZIPANGU”, Takashimaya, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, Japan
- 2010
- “RE: 2010”, Galeria Punto, Tokyo, Japan
- “Explorer −celebratory exhibition for the retirement of Atsuo ISHII−”, Tama Art University Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- 2009
- “ANIMAMIX BIENNIAL 2009-2010”, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- “outdoors art exhibition: art by a river”, around Motomachi Gogan, Hiroshima, Japan
- 2008
- “RE: 2008”, Galeria Punto, Tokyo, Japan
- “NETWORK PROJECT JAPAN”, inter alia Art Contemporary, Korea
- “The House -How to live with modern art-”, Nippon Homes Model Houses in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo, Japan
- “Imaginary animal kingdom”, YUKARI ART CONTEMPORARY, Tokyo, Japan
- “Hiroshima-O”, ex bank of Japan, Hiroshima branch, Hiroshima, Japan
- 2007
- “RE: 2007”, Galeria Punto, Tokyo, Japan
- “LE MONDE COCO”, CHANEL NEXUS HALL, Tokyo, Japan
- “ZERO-K”, SPACE ZERO, Tokyo, Japan
- 2006
- “A lunch”, AXIS Gallery ANNEX, Tokyo, Japan
- “Yamaguchi prefecture citizen’s cultural festival 2006”, Yamaguchi, Japan
- “Hiroshima-O”, ex bank of Japan, Hiroshima branch, Hiroshima, Japan
- “RE: ”, Galeria Punto, Tokyo, Japan
- 2005
- “EMA daikanyama opening”, EMA daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan
- “Rinjin no kei”, EMA daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan
- “Animal Illusional World”, Sagamihara Citizen’s Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2004
- “gun gun organon”, Gallery Barco, Tokyo, Japan
- 2003
- “FRONT BRIDGE”, Maebashi cultural laboratory, Gunma, Japan
- “SAGAMIHARART OPEN STUDIO”, Sagamihara Citizen’s Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
- “FRONT BRIDGE”, Maebashi cultural laboratory, Gunma, Japan
- 2002
- “Thrift pop”, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- “Six persons show”, Robinson department store, Kanagawa, Japan
Selected Art Fairs
- 2022
- LA Art Show 2022, Miami, Los Angeles, USA
- Art Fair Tokyo 2022, Tokyo, Japan
- ART OSAKA 2022, Osaka, Japan
- Art Miami 2022, Miami, USA
- 2013
- SNIFF OUT 2013, Osaka, Japan
- 2012
- ART KYOTO, Kyoto, Japan
- 2010
- KIAF, Korea International Art Fair 2010, Seoul, Korea
- ASIA TOP GALLERY HOTEL ART FAIR HONG KONG, Hong Kong
- 2009
- Tokyo Contemporary Art Fair 2009, Tokyo, Japan
- EMERGING DIRECTORS‘ ART FAIR ULTRA 002, Tokyo, Japan
- ART TAIPEI 2009, Taipei, Taiwan
- 2007
- Tokyo Contemporary Art Fair 2007, Tokyo, Japan
- 2004
- KIAF, Korea International Art Fair 2004, Seoul, Korea
AWARDS
Selected Awards
- 2000
- Grand prix on "Kitano Takeshi’s TV show “Daredemo PICASO”, competition by 5 art universities in Japan, Tokyo television
Commission Works
Selected Commission Works
- 2004
- designed custom made jackets for mobile phone "panasonic FOMA p900i"
COLLECTION
Public Collection
- Hong Kong MTR(Mass Transit Railway), City One Station
- Nishi Ginza Chance Center, the most popular lottery stand in Japan
Related Articles

Copyright infringement of Akira Yoshida’s works, public display of unauthorized changes to the same, and its unauthorized removal.
[The original Japanese version was published on February 23, 2023] To the supporters of Akira Yoshida and all those concerned. Thank you very much for your continued support of our artist, Akira Yoshida. Today, for the first time, we refer to the series of damages...

Akira Yoshida is participating in "ART OSAKA 2022"!
Akira YOSHIDA is going to exhibit at "ART OSAKA 2022". Enjoy short movies below which Yoshida himself is introducing the brand new works for the upcoiming artfair. Message from the artists: It is a "dog" and a "papier-mâché". I use traditional Japanese handicraft Inu...

YUKARI ART mini Vo.11 ”Akira YOSHIDA - No.3”
YUKARI ART is pleased to announce that "YUKARI ART mini", a tiny window gallery we run in Nakameguro, Tokyo has started its 11th exhibition. We are currently displaying a latest sculpture by Akira YOSHIDA. Please come and enjoy the piece! YUKARI ART mini Vol.11 "...