Tomokazu Matsuyama
In Tomokazu Matsuyama art works, a central theme, are the blending of “East and West,” “ancient and modern,” “figurative and abstract”. He draws from Japanese traditional art (Edo/Meiji eras), Western art history (classical, Renaissance) and popular culture — combining them in dense, vivid compositions that reflect globalisation, hybridity, identity.
Tomokazu Matsuyama work often uses vibrant colours, layered imagery, shaped canvases, and mixes imagery from fashion magazines, art history, interior design, consumer culture — aiming to challenge cultural categorisation.
Tomokazu Matsuyama hybrid visual language speaks to contemporary issues: identity in a globalised world, cultural fluidity, the collision of tradition and modernity.
Many works are large scale and immersive — it helps to see in person to appreciate scale and detail. His shaped canvases and non-traditional formats are a part of his vocabulary.
Because his imagery draws widely: fashion, Western & Eastern art history, pop culture, there’s lots of “sampling” going on – recognizing references can enhance the viewing experience.
Tomokazu Matsuyama was born in 1976 in Gifu Prefecture (Japan).
He earned a Bachelor of Economics at Sophia University in Tokyo (1996-2000), then moved to New York and obtained an MFA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute (2002-2004).
He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York
His works you can admire at Simose Art Museum in Japan.
ft/ Kate Zaniewska
