We are pleased to announce that gallery UG will participate in the solo exhibition "WONDERLAND – Light, Shadow, and a Subtle Lie" by Keitoku TOIZUMI, held at gallery UG Tennoz from February 6 (Friday) to February 28 (Saturday), 2026.

This exhibition presents new works by Keitoku TOIZUMI, an exclusive artist of gallery UG.

Since 2020, TOIZUMI has worked closely with gallery UG, expanding his distinctive artistic practice through solo exhibitions, art fairs, and group shows. In 2025, he presented a solo show at "ART FAIR TOKYO".

We warmly invite you to experience the powerful presence and expressive depth of his latest works.



Have you ever played “Spot the Difference” before?
The kind of puzzle where there are two pictures and you would have to find five differences within the time limit.

For these kinds of puzzles, it’s usually hard to spot the last difference.
Even if you look at every nook and cranny of the picture, you always end up missing it and just like that times up, it’s time to check the answers.
“Oh so it’s the width that’s slightly different” is usually what the last answer is for the difference you can’t spot.

Have you ever had the experience where once you know the answer, it hits you and you wonder “I’m definitely sure I looked there, so why didn’t I notice the difference?”
Pre-conceived notions and fixed ideas get in the way so even if we think we’re looking, we really aren’t.
That’s just how limited human vision is, after all.

My art starts with taking photos of the motif.
While I take photos, I think about the composition, where to place my colors, and imagine the story. Basically, I take photos with a drawing mindset and I create paintings based on those photos.

“Why not just use the photo” is what you might think but when I turn it into a painting, I sometimes tell subtle lies.
Sometimes the lies can be subtle but other times bold as well.

Thus the completed piece when you compare it to the original photo, may look similar at a glance but when you carefully look at it, it’s something completely different.

I consider these subtle lies the most important core aspect of my art.

It’s okay if you glance at it and think “hmmm, it’s just a photorealistic painting.”
But if you notice the subtle lies then I welcome you to the mysterious Wonderland.
Keitoku TOIZUMI