Kohei Yamada

Kohei YAMADA (b. 1997, Japan) presents abstract paintings that metaphorically explore the liminal space between contemporary urban landscapes and nature. His oil paintings reveal a distinctive depth of color, density, and contemplative sensibility through the layering and contrast of geometric color fields. The artist perceives the layers of paint meticulously built upon the canvas as delicate membranes, each encapsulating a singular moment or a fragment of memory. He focuses on the borderline—the symbolic threshold where these translucent veils come into contact. These borderlines do not signify divisions; rather, they represent “junctions” or “center points” that connect disparate memories, times, and spaces. Kohei YAMADA’s paintings always begin with a luminous lemon-colored brushstroke reminiscent of radiant sunlight. Over this foundation, he layers diverse color fields, carefully constructing a unique sense of equilibrium within each composition. His works metaphorically express the organic light embedded within fragmented urban landscapes, revealing the latent presence of nature within rigid, industrialized surroundings. The geometric color fields embody the linear structures of modern cities, while the dominant reds and blues in his picture planes reflect the hues of the land and sea, respectively. The subtle tension between the opposing realms—separated only by a delicate membrane—creates a precarious yet mesmerizing paradox of harmony. Kohei YAMADA was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1997. He earned a BFA in Painting from Musashino Art University in 2020 and an MFA in Fine Arts from Kyoto University of the Arts in 2022. He has held solo exhibitions at ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL (Seoul, Korea, 2025), Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2023), biscuit gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2022), MtK Contemporary Art (Kyoto, Japan, 2022), and more. He has participated in group exhibitions at ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI (Shanghai, China, 2025), Mai 36 Galerie (Zurich, Switzerland, 2024), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan, 2024), Le Consortium (Dijon, France, 2024), ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL (Seoul, Korea, 2024), Taka Ishii Gallery Maebashi (Gunma, Japan, 2023), ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI (Shanghai, China, 2022), biscuit gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2022), and more. In 2020, he received the CAF Award from the Contemporary Art Foundation in Japan. His works are collected by institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Gunma (Japan), and ARARIO Collection (Korea).