Event

GOCA by Garde will present the first U.S. solo exhibition of artist Aya Kawato, titled “Grids of Perception,” at GOCA by Garde—the art gallery operated by GARDE—from Thursday, September 4, 2025, through Saturday, October 25, 2025.

Aya Kawato is an artist who explores the theme of “control and deviation” from a unique perspective within grid-like paintings. Drawing on her experience studying dyeing and weaving in Kyoto, as well as the influence of her father, a neuroscientist, she focuses on the relationship between vision and cognition. She captures the subtle “deviations” that inevitably arise from meticulous manual work as expressions of beauty, creating paintings that overlay grid structures with vibrant colors.

Kawato’s works evoke a gentle sense of dizziness in viewers through optical illusions and layers of color, opening up a new realm of tactile and warmly human geometric abstraction. Her creative process, blending traditional Japanese dyeing techniques with a neuroscientific perspective, has garnered high praise for its unique approach that transcends the boundaries of craft, science, and art.

Recently, Kawato has attracted attention both in Japan and abroad, serving as design director for a large-scale tapestry project at the Welcome Hall of the 2025 Osaka–Kansai World Expo. In addition, she has produced works for Chanel’s collection and created commissioned pieces for Longchamp, with her dynamic installations featured at “Longchamp La Maison Ginza” in Tokyo’s Ginza district and “Longchamp Vienna” in Austria, further broadening her international presence.

Highlights of the Exhibition

This exhibition will showcase approximately 20 works, including new paintings that investigate the relationship between control and deviation through abstract grid compositions. These works merge traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving techniques with concepts drawn from modern neuroscience, offering a compelling introduction to Kawato’s multifaceted artistic vision. By crossing the boundaries between visual art, craft, and science, Kawato invites viewers to reconsider the inherent instability and richness of perception itself. In addition, a prototype of the large-scale tapestry to be presented at the 2025 Osaka–Kansai Expo will also be on view.

Exhibition Overview

Title: Aya Kawato Solo Exhibition “Grids of Perception”
Period: September 4 (Thu), 2025 – October 25 (Sat), 2025
Address: GOCA by Garde, 515 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
Admission: Free
Official Website: https://www.goca.gallery/

Artist Profile

Aya Kawato
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1988. Resides in Kyoto Prefecture. Growing up with a father who is a neuroscientist, she developed a strong awareness of perceiving the world through the brain. After studying traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving in Kyoto, she participated in an exchange program at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and in 2019, she completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Advanced Artistic Expression at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Her work centers on abstract grid-like paintings that explore the theme of “control and deviation,” drawing on both traditional Japanese dyeing techniques and contemporary neuroscience. Recent solo exhibitions include Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, as well as exhibitions in Paris and Geneva. Additionally, in 2024, she participated in Colors: Unraveling the Secrets of Color from Impressionism to Contemporary Art at the POLA MUSEUM OF ART (Kanagawa); in 2023, Nippon Mania. Contemporary Art from Japan at Kunsthaus Kaufbeuren (Kaufbeuren, Germany); and in 2017, 2074, The World of Dreams at FIAC 2017 / Grand Palais (Paris, France), among many others.

Major collections include Chanel Co., Ltd. and the University of Tokyo Museum of Art. Major commissioned works include: 2025, Osaka-Kansai Expo Welcome Hall (Osaka); 2021, Longchamp Vienna (Vienna, Austria); 2020, Meta Open Arts Commission / Facebook (Tokyo); and 2019, Longchamp La Maison Ginza (Tokyo). Major awards include the 2018 Nomura Art Award from the Nomura Foundation; the 2017 2074, Dream World Grand Prix from the Colbert Committee and Tokyo University of the Arts; and the 2016 11th TAGBOAT AWARD Special Jury Prize, Tomio Koyama Award from TAGBOAT.
Official website: https://ayakawato.com/

GOCA by Garde

GOCA by Garde, an art gallery operated by GARDE, is located in New York’s Chelsea district and specializes in contemporary art from Japan and Asia. Through paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, the gallery introduces both emerging and established artists, aiming to promote cultural exchange and dialogue.

The Chelsea district is renowned as one of the world’s leading centers for art and culture, currently home to approximately 200 galleries showcasing a wide range of works, from exhibitions by renowned artists to experimental projects by emerging talents.

In this dynamic Chelsea setting, GARDE leverages its expertise in spatial design and its network of artists to create a space where art enthusiasts can gather and engage. We anticipate that the inspiration and possibilities born from GOCA by Garde will positively impact society through the power of art.

GARDE is currently presenting the group exhibition Stand clear of the closing doors, Please at its art gallery, GOCA by Garde, from Thursday, July 10 to Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

GOCA by Garde is Garde’s first overseas art gallery, serving as a hub for introducing Japanese and Asian artists to the world. The gallery showcases a diverse range of works, including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, with the aim of becoming a new cultural platform for sharing contemporary art from Japan and Asia on a global scale.

The title of the exhibition is inspired by the familiar announcement heard daily on the New York City subway: “Stand clear of the closing doors, Please.” In a world where various boundaries—national, cultural, and ideological—are increasingly closing, three Japanese artists based in New York with active international careers—Yuya Saito, Shinji Murakami, and Hiroshi Masuda—present perspectives on “reopening the doors” through the backdrop of this city. In a society marked by growing global division, cultural exclusivity, and restrictions on the movement of people, goods, and information, invisible “doors” separate us in countless ways. This exhibition seeks to question these boundaries through art and to explore the possibilities of diversity and dialogue in a world that is closing in on itself.

Exhibition Highlights

Yuya Saito
Yuya Saito focuses on the non-hierarchical and democratic structure of skateboard “ramps,” reimagining them from an urban-critical perspective to create sculptural works.

His exploration of the “relationship between people and cities” began in response to his personal experience of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Using traditional bentwood techniques, he fuses “flow” and “structure” to visualize the fluid spirituality inherent in urban environments.

This work suggests the potential for accessing free, open spaces—embodied through playful physical engagement—within the rigid systems in which we live. With the influx of street culture, such as graffiti, into art history, the boundaries between “high art” and “popular culture” have blurred.

Saito’s contemporary practice, which he calls flow-chitecture—a concept of non-hierarchical, non-authoritative spaces—seeks to bring transformative change to art history through physical and temporal “repetition.”

Shinji Murakami
Shinji Murakami is a pioneer of a new form of landscape painting grounded in 8-bit video game culture. Using a universally accessible visual language and the Atari 2600, he constructs a unique world where nostalgia and cutting-edge sensibilities intersect.

By blending viewing and participation, his work invites audiences to engage across generations and borders, using shared “nostalgia” and “playfulness” as entry points to reexamine the idea of “universality” in the post-pop era.

For this exhibition, his motif is One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by Utagawa Hiroshige, a work emblematic of Japonisme that greatly influenced Western painters such as Van Gogh and Whistler. Murakami fuses this historic masterpiece with 8-bit gaming, elevating video games as an artistic medium while creating new landscapes and experiences.

Hiroshi Masuda
Hiroshi Masuda is a visual artist who fuses Eastern philosophy with pop culture, approaching the fundamental question of “What does it mean to be human?” through charming and endearing forms of expression. Drawing on his experiences traveling to 76 countries, he examines “humanity” from a perspective that transcends cultural, political, and social boundaries.

Rooted in physics and philosophy, his works contemplate life itself, suggesting that our bodies exist through the constant replacement of molecules—an idea that evokes the Buddhist concepts of anatta (non-self) and anicca (impermanence).

By taking a panoramic view of dichotomies such as comedy and tragedy, justice and injustice, and seeking their integration, his style serves as a visual exploration of the Buddhist spirit of mubunbetsu (non-discrimination). The humor born from playful shifts in perspective delivers a sharp critique of society, while at the same time prompting us to question and reconsider our own place within it.

Although each of the three artists works in different mediums and comes from a distinct background, they share a deep resonance with the idea of creating spaces open to all—regardless of age or gender—and with perspectives rooted in the inevitability of movement, flow, and connection. In the face of a society that tends toward closure and intolerance, their works sound a quiet alarm.

Saito’s ramps symbolize open structures within the city; Masuda’s works depict the constant molecular circulation that constitutes life; and Murakami offers new perspectives through technologies and ways of thinking accessible to everyone. Together, these form a gentle mode of resistance, inviting us to imagine “reopening the doors” in our current times.

Stand clear of the closing doors, Please offers a perspective for reclaiming the possibilities of movement, connection, and dialogue in an era of closing doors. Traversing painting, sculpture, and digital media, the exhibition goes beyond a visual experience to challenge the very worldview we have held until now.

Opening Reception

On Wednesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 10, an opening reception was held for the exhibition. The three participating artists each gave remarks and provided insights into their works, sharing directly with guests the passion behind their creations and the stories that shape their artistic worlds.

The event drew approximately 200 distinguished guests, including art collectors, members of the design industry, and creative professionals based in New York. The sophisticated, luxurious atmosphere of the venue was filled with excitement and anticipation.

Catering was provided by OYAMADA JAPAN, an organization dedicated to promoting Japanese food culture worldwide, featuring a menu centered on inventive onigiri. This created a special moment where New York’s art scene met the richness of Japanese culinary tradition.

With its distinctly international and contemporary vibe, GOCA by Garde offered guests a rare opportunity to experience the works up close—an aspirational stage for emerging artists and a key destination for collectors seeking investment-worthy pieces. Through this exhibition, visitors can directly experience the cutting edge of culture and expression emerging in New York, along with the atmosphere that shapes it.

Highlights from the opening reception are available on Garde’s official YouTube channel.
GARDE Official YouTube: https://youtu.be/d8RbyNfq2yM?feature=shared

Exhibition Overview

Title: Group Exhibition Stand clear of the closing doors, Please
Dates: Thursday, July 10 – Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Venue: GOCA by Garde, 515 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
Admission: Free
Official Website: https://www.goca.gallery/

Artist Profile

Yuya Saito
An artist from Japan, currently based in New York.
At the age of 14, he discovered skateboarding and became immersed in street culture and urban life, including music, design, and fashion. His work is characterized by curved forms inspired by skateboard ramps, expressing the chaos and impermanence of the city and the street through abstract shapes.
By combining traditional bentwood furniture techniques with architectural structures, he seeks to create a new visual language of urban expression—one that goes beyond the frameworks of art history and street culture.
Official Website: https://www.yuyas.net/

Shinji Murakami
An artist from Japan, currently based in New York.
Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Gunpei Yokoi—the creator of Nintendo’s Game & Watch and Game Boy—known as “lateral thinking with withered technology,” Murakami creates works rooted in the pixel-based expressions of 8-bit video games.
In 2021, he developed an original game for the Atari 2600, using it as a starting point to produce sculptures, paintings, and LED light works. Employing AR technology, he opens portals on his artworks, drawing viewers directly into the world of his creations.
Murakami has presented public installations engaging directly with audiences in more than 20 countries, collaborating with organizations such as Salesforce and The Standard Hotel. Through a minimalist yet post-pop approach, he reinterprets universal motifs and elements responding to cultural contexts, reconsidering the role of the artist in contemporary art.
Official Website: https://murakamishinji.com/

Hiroshi Masuda
An artist from Japan, currently based in New York.
After a career shift from the advertising industry to the water sports industry, Masuda embarked on a round-the-world journey in 2017, driven by a deep interest in humanity. On his very first stop, he was robbed of one million yen in a sleeping-pill theft—an incident that led him to begin drawing street portraits, marking the start of his artistic career.
In 2018, he traveled through 76 countries creating drawings, and upon returning to Japan, he produced a large-scale visual for MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 and held his solo exhibition Water in Harajuku. His work has been collected by singer-songwriter Sia, and in 2021 he received international recognition through collaborations with adidas Originals and an award in the UNIQLO × MoMA UTGP 2020 competition.
Masuda continues to explore the fundamental question, “What does it mean to be human?” through his art, now based in New York.
Official Website: https://hiroshimasuda.com/

GOCA by Garde

GOCA by Garde, an art gallery produced by Garde, is located in New York’s Chelsea district and specializes in contemporary art from Japan and Asia. Through exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, the gallery introduces both emerging and established artists, aiming to serve as a space that fosters cultural exchange and dialogue.
Chelsea is known as one of the world’s foremost centers of art and culture, currently home to around 200 galleries showcasing a wide spectrum of works—from exhibitions by renowned artists to experimental pieces by emerging talents. In this vibrant setting, Garde leverages its extensive expertise in spatial design and its strong network of artists to create a gathering place for art lovers. GOCA by Garde aspires to inspire and open new possibilities, bringing a positive impact to society through art.

Artworks Image Credit：©MC3 Photo

In early May 2025, as the city buzzed with the glamour of the Met Gala and New Yorkers strolled the streets in cutting-edge fashion, a sense of luxury and celebration filled the air. This special week, when major art fairs such as Frieze New York, TEFAF, INDEPENDENT, and NADA converge across the city, offers an immersive and elevated experience simply by being there.

In the heart of Chelsea’s art district, the 2025 edition of Future Fair took place at Chelsea Industrial (535 W 28th Street). As a platform for rising galleries, the fair gathers curators, collectors, and art critics from around the world and is now regarded as one of the most important launchpads for the next generation of international contemporary art.

What is Future Fair?

Launched in 2020, Future Fair has rapidly grown into a curated fair that values selectivity, equity, and dialogue. Far from a traditional sales venue, it encourages collaboration among exhibitors and is guided by community-driven standards. Today, it enjoys both critical acclaim and international prestige. For its 2025 edition, 67 galleries from around the world were selected—among them, GOCA (Gallery of Contemporary Art) by Garde was the sole representative from Japan.

GOCA’s Challenge: Neo Japanese Pulse

GOCA is a New York–based gallery with a mission to showcase the value of Japanese and Asian artists on the global stage. At this year’s Future Fair, it presented a dual exhibition themed Neo Japanese Pulse: Reimagining a Cultural Loop, featuring works by Aya Kawata and Yuta Okuda.

The exhibition explored a re-interpretation of Japonisme—the wave of fascination with Japanese art that swept through Europe in the late 19th century. Japanese culture, once imported as a curiosity from the East, flowed into Europe and later to the United States throughout the 20th century. In the postmodern era, this trajectory reversed: Japanese culture that had evolved in the West began to re-enter Japan in new forms, creating a cyclical cultural phenomenon. Within this loop, Japanese artistic expression has undergone its own “Galápagos-style evolution.” Neo Japanese Pulse presented how contemporary Japanese artists are fusing tradition with modernity to redefine aesthetic expression on the world stage.

Aya Kawata: Delicate Grids at the Intersection of Neuroscience and Textiles

Aya Kawata draws on traditional Japanese textile techniques while exploring the intersection of visual illusion and cognitive science. Influenced by her neuroscientist father, her work invents a beauty found in control and misalignment within visual experience. Her abstract grid compositions blend craft and intellect to create a soft disorientation and deep immersion. Her practice introduces a new frontier in art history—particularly Western traditions of illusionism—through the uncharted union of science and craft.

Yuta Okuda: A Fusion of Floral Energy and Emotional Resonance

In contrast, Yuta Okuda is known for his vibrant, intricate floral works built from vivid color and precise linework. Combining London fashion culture with Japanese sensibility, he captures the interplay of chance and intention to create new forms of visual life. Beneath the explosion of color lies a core of universal human emotions: gratitude, connection, and vitality. His works offer a contemporary reinterpretation of kacho-ga (traditional bird-and-flower painting), merging beauty with spiritual expression.

International Reception and Strategic Impact

From the VIP preview onward, GOCA’s booth attracted key figures from the international art world, including curators from major New York museums, directors of global art fairs and institutions, cultural advisors, diplomats, consulate cultural officials, top-tier art media editors, market insiders, and, of course, collectors and art acquisition directors. Every booth at Future Fair buzzed with energy, including those from Asia, Africa, and across the U.S., with engaged visitors photographing works and conversing with gallerists. The sheer number of curators and collectors in attendance underscored the high level of curation and relevance of the fair itself.

Kawata’s work received praise for “bridging Eastern delicacy with scientific reasoning,” while Okuda’s was noted for “a return to primal beauty infused with futuristic color sensibility.” Multiple sales and exhibition offers followed. Most importantly, GOCA’s curatorial concept—rather than exporting culture in one direction, it embraces reinterpretation through global cultural circulation—was particularly well received in today’s diversity-conscious art world.

In Conclusion – Reframing “Japan”

Future Fair is more than just another art fair. It is an intellectual testing ground for reorganizing the boundaries between nations, markets, and cultural centers. Neo Japanese Pulse, as presented by GOCA, was not a display of Japan as it is, but an invitation to consider how culture transforms and circulates—an introduction to new forms of Japanese identity in art. That we were able to lay the foundation for this message from a small corner of Chelsea feels deeply significant. It marks the beginning of our voyage, and GOCA looks forward to continuing the dialogue on where Japan’s next artistic pulse may lead within the international art scene.

Future Fair 2025 – Overview

Dates: May 7 (Wed, VIP Preview) – May 10 (Sat), 2025
Venue: Chelsea Industrial (535 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001)
Participating Galleries: 67

Written by local correspondent Kenta Ichinose (GOCA Curator)