gallery UG Fukuoka is pleased to present a special exhibition featuring Takaoki TAJIMA.
Takaoki Tajima was born in Chiba. In 2000, he graduated from the Department of Sculpturing at Aichi University of the Arts. Born into a family of Buddhist sculptors spanning five generations, Tajima has been familiar with Buddhist statues and sculptures from a young age. Through crossing paths with sculpting, painting and even language he expresses the fundamental question of “how the world appears to us”. At the heart of his artistic expression is a humorous mindset where absurdity and sorrow can turn into laughter. He has gained widespread acclaim and overwhelming support not only in Japan but also in the international art scene particularly across Asia.
This exhibition will feature new drawings shown in Fukuoka for the first time, ahead of the solo exhibition at gallery UG Tennoz along with the doodle series. These artworks while humorous also carry a mysterious sense of tension that piques the imagination of the viewer.
Technique and memory, lightness and depth, laughter and sorrow. We invite you to experience Tajima’s diverse artistic expression that moves freely between these contrasting elements.
gallery UG Fukuoka is pleased to announce its participation in ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA 2026, exhibiting as gallery UG Fukuoka (DAIMARU FUKUOKA TENJIN).
Since the second edition of the fair, gallery UG has proudly participated every year.
This year marks a new chapter as we exhibit as gallery UG Fukuoka, our newly established base in Fukuoka, in collaboration with DAIMARU FUKUOKA TENJIN.
Our presentation will feature Kunihiko Nohara, the gallery UG's leading artist, as the main artist of the booth.
Alongside his works, we will present pieces by Ryosuke Kawahira, whose distinctive narrative style and playful sense of humor have attracted increasing attention. Through the unique artistic expressions of these two artists, visitors will experience the diverse possibilities of contemporary art.
In addition, we are honored to exhibit works by Robert Rauschenberg and Frank Stella, two historically significant artists whose groundbreaking achievements laid the foundation for contemporary art and profoundly influenced its development.
By presenting the works of these modern masters alongside those of artists within the same space, we hope to offer visitors a meaningful dialogue across generations and a fresh perspective on the continuing evolution of contemporary art.
ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA has become the leading art fair in Fukuoka and the Kyushu region, bringing together galleries, artists, and collectors from Japan and around the world. It serves as an important platform for fostering cultural exchange and advancing the regional contemporary art scene.
Through our continued participation in the fair, gallery UG remains committed to promoting contemporary art throughout Fukuoka and Kyushu while further strengthening our engagement with the local community.
We warmly invite you to visit our booth and experience an exhibition uniquely curated from the perspective of gallery UG Fukuoka.
We look forward to welcoming you.
gallery UG Fukuoka
【 Details 】 ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA2026
Artist ｜Ryosuke KAWAHIRA @ryosuke_kawahira / Kunihiko NOHARA @kunihikonohara1982
Frank Stella / Robert Rauschenberg
Dates｜2026/10/1 (Thu) - 10/4 (Sun)
gallery UG is pleased to present “Ah, My Beloved Beastizens,” a special feature exhibition by Junko ASANO, taking place on the 30th floor of Park Hotel Tokyo from Friday, August 28 to Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Junko ASANO’s works depict fantastical scenes inspired by the seemingly ordinary moments of everyday life, portraying animals joyfully coexisting and evoking a warm sense of nostalgia.
Through her art, Asano cherishes the imagination that is gradually being lost in today’s world, as well as the importance of taking time to slow down.
She invites viewers to freely imagine the stories that unfold beyond what is depicted in each work.
Drawing inspiration from Japan’s long-standing tradition of anthropomorphizing animals, the exhibition presents a nostalgic and playful world where animals come together in their own delightful realm.
Amid the serene and tranquil atmosphere of Park Hotel Tokyo, we invite you to take your time and enjoy an encounter with art that gently fills the heart with warmth and tranquility.
*Please note that the displayed works may be changed during the exhibition period without prior notice.
Tosei Kyoto Gallery is pleased to present the object exhibition, “Deepening Forms – Contemporary Japanese Objects –.”
Launched last year, this exhibition aims to introduce both Japanese and international audiences to the current landscape of contemporary three-dimensional art in Japan, while exploring the new possibilities of expression that lie ahead. Moving beyond conventional boundaries of material, technique, and genre, the exhibition presents a diverse range of sculptural works shaped by each artist’s individual vision and creative approach.
The exhibition will be presented in two parts: “Monochrome” and “Chroma.” Monochrome focuses on form, texture, and the inherent presence of materials that emerge when color is restrained. In contrast, Chroma explores the expressive possibilities created through the interplay of vibrant color, form, and material.
Through these two distinct perspectives, we invite you to discover the evolving forms of contemporary Japanese art and the ways in which artists continue to deepen and expand their expression
"Connecting artworks to people, connecting people to each other through art."
galleryUG are always there for our artists.
We will grow together with the artists and support them from production to promotion.
We aim to further enrich and expand the contemporary art scene by proposing the ideal way for galleries to be.
I express visions inspired by ordinary daily life, where animals happily coexist and warm feelings of nostalgia prevail. I hope viewers will cherish their imagination, which is often overlooked in today's fast-paced world, and the time they spend relaxing. Through my work, I encourage them to freely imagine the stories that lie beyond the artwork.
In moments when I feel like I’m in a place independent of my surroundings,
I sometimes feel like I’m in a different time and space.
The feeling is like clouds or smoke that change shape with no regard for time
that people have to live by, and it also feels like a space of my own.
To turn, various scenes that came up in my imagination from things I encountered.
To express freedom, time and desires that are on the verge of being discarded from memory.
That is what is important, in order for me to be me and for a person to be them self.
2F TERRADA ART COMPLEX Ⅱ, 1-32-8, Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
8 minutes walk from Tennozu Isle Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line(Exit B)
11 minutes walk from Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line Tennozu Isle Station(Central Exit)
Hours and holidays follow those of Fukuoka Tenjin.
TEL : +81-92-712-8181(代) FAX : -
Studio MOKU
This is a production studio dedicated to gallery UG’s represented artists, established in 2020. It was founded to support and engage with artists from a long-term perspective.
