Aya Ito

  • THE SPIRIT OF THE THINKING 2022 oil on canvas 112.0 x 194.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • BUFF BUFF ASSHEAD 2022 oil on canvas 112.0 x 145.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • UNIVERSE CROSSING 2022 oil and spray on canvas 49.8 x 43.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • DIG UP HAPPINESS 2022 oil and spray on canvas 49.7 x 43.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Where is banana? 2021 spray and oil on canvas 227.3 x 363.6 cm (a set of 2 pieces) ©Aya Ito
  • SWING INTO APE LOVE 2021 spray and oil on canvas 181.8 x 227.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • APE SPROUTS OUT 2021 spray and oil on canvas 60.6 x 72.7 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • DOKIDOKI MIDORI KITSUNE WITH BLOSSOM PALS 2021 spray and oil on canvas 60.6 x 50.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • Installation images from “Where is banana?” at MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • SCENERY IN FLAMES 2020 oil on canvas 162.0 x 130.3 cm ©️Aya Ito
  • SNEAKY EYES ON LIGHT TOWER 2020 oil on canvas 130.6 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • DON’T BE SHY SAMURAI 2020 oil on canvas 112.1 × 145.7 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • BOTTLED TEDDIES BY THE MOON 2020 sand and oil on canvas 130.5 x 162.2 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2020 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation images from “STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” at GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan, 2021 ©Aya Ito, photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • LOVE POWER VER.1 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 x 162.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • LOVE POWER VER.2 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, 2020 ©Aya Ito photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • Installation view from "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, 2020 ©Aya Ito photo by Osamu Sakamoto
  • LOVE POWER VER.3 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas 130.4 × 162.3 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • MAGENTA SPRING 2019 oil on linen 100.0 × 100.4 cm ©Aya Ito
  • ELEPHANT MAN SWIMS IN THE SPACE OCEAN 2019 oil on linen 100.1 × 100.2 cm ©Aya Ito
  • ELEPHANT MAN WITH FISHER ANGEL 2019 oil on linen 100.1 × 100.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 ©︎Aya Ito & Richard Gorman photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Trap 2018 oil on canvas 60.0 × 80.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Vortex 2018 oil on canvas 150.2 × 150.4 cm © Aya Ito
  • Mikado-chan in the twilight 2017 oil on canvas 130.5 × 162.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • River imp in the vegetables town 2017 oil on canvas 130.5 × 227.5 cm (a set of 2 pieces) ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "How’s this?" at Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©Aya Ito
  • Sleeping Stone 2017 oil on canvas 120 × 150 cm ©Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe
  • I’m homesick 2016 oil on canvas 65.0 × 80.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • Mikado-chan meets River imp 2017 oil on canvas stretched by cage φ28.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe
  • Kurun-kurun 2017 oil on canvas 51.0 × 51.0 cm ©︎Aya Ito photo by Sachiko Abe
  • Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Sleeping Stone" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2017 ©︎Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • THE HOLE SizeXS 2015 oil on canvas 114 × 273 cm (18 pieces: 38 × 45.5 cm each) ©Aya Ito
  • THE HOLE SizeXS (detail) 2015 oil on canvas 38 × 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • THE HOLE SizeXS (detail) 2015 oil on canvas 38 × 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Hips 2015 oil on canvas 38.0 x 45.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "THE HOLE" at 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Kenji Takahashi
  • Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka
  • Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka
  • Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka
  • Installation view from "Really Realistic Reality" at The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, 2015 ©Aya Ito photo by Koji Nagaoka
  • BELIEVE 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 218.5 × 291.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • でまかせくん Hokum boy 2012 oil an acrylic on panel, ceramic 35 × 44.5 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • They watch THAT together 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 162 × 227 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • She has golden balls 2012 oil and crayon on canvas 170 × 227 cm ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Hahaha at Hyperspeed" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2012 ©︎Aya Ito
  • 穏やかに臭う Smelling mildly 2011 oil, acrylic, color pastel, crayon on canvas 137.5 × 200.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • エリーです I'm Ellie 2011 oil, water color, paperclay, glue on canvas 40.0 × 30.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • 私はだれでしょう Who am I? 2011 oil on canvas 91.0 × 116.5 cm ©Aya Ito
  • どこそこのだれだれ Ver.2 Someone from somewhere ver.2 2011 oil, water color, pastel, paperclay, glue on canvas 40.5 × 30.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "Smelling Mildly" at Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 ©Aya Ito
  • 景色 ver.3 女 Landscape ver.3 woman 2010 oil, pastel on canvas/ oil on ceramic 73.1 × 60.2 cm/ 8.8 × 21.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • MAMI 2010 oil, acrylic on canvas 38.0 × 50.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • ピンポイント・タッチ Pinpoint touch 2010 oil, acrylic, pastel, crayon on canvas 40.9 × 52.7 cm ©Aya Ito
  • 失恋モード Broken heart mode, 2010 oil on canvas 44.8 × 32.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • 妄想くん Daydreaming boy 2010 oil on canvas 59.4 × 84.3 cm ©Aya Ito
  • 妄想くん Daydreaming boy 2010 expanded polystyrene, paper clay, wood glue, gesso h.76.5 × w.53.0 × d.97.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • B.C. '09 Gold 2010 bronze, motor h.33.0 × w.23.0 × d.15.0 cm ©Aya Ito
  • Installation view from "TKG Project #2" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan, 2010 ©Aya Ito

Aya Ito was born in Arida-city, Wakayama in 1987. She received MFA from Department of Painting, Graduate School of Art, Kyoto City University of Arts. She currently lives and works in Dublin, Ireland, and Wakayama, Japan.

Ito received the Suntory award at “Art Camp in Kunst-Bau 2007” (Suntory Museum, Osaka), the Shu Uemura Prize and the Judge’s Prize (Yuko Hasegawa) at “Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011”. Her major group exhibitions include “VOCA 2010” (The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, 2010), and “RESONANCE” (Suntory Museum, Osaka, 2010), “Really Realistic Reality” (The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, 2015). She has recently presented work at “AYA ITO & ATSUSHI KAGA IT HAPPENS TO BE” (Pallas Projects/Studios, Ireland) in July 2017. She also had solo exhibition “Sleeping Stone” (8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo) in September 2017.

1987　Born in Wakayama, Japan
2009　B.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts
2011　M.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts

Solo Exhibitions

2023 "Unfortunately I love you” YIRI ARTS, Taipei, Taiwan
“Aya Ito: Magic Spittle” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China
2021 “Where is banana?” MITSUKOSHI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan
“STORIES -collaboration with Essential Store-” GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM, Tokyo, Japan
2020 "Lava drop ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" gallery ON THE HILL, Tokyo, Japan
"Blink ~ Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication exhibition ~" NADiff a/p/a/r/t, Tokyo, Japan
"Aya Ito debut art book RAPID RABBIT HOLE publication crowdfunding incentives exhibition" Grenier, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “Rapid Rabbit hole” Grenier, Tokyo, Japan
2018 “Reflection” Pulp, Osaka, Japan
“Vortex” hitoto, Osaka, Japan
2017 “How's this?” Daikanyama HILLSIDE TERRACE, Tokyo, Japan
“Sleeping Stone” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2016 “I AM HOMESICK” Pulp, Osaka/ Mikan no Ki・Gallery Space, Wakayama, Japan
“CASH MOB Live Painting” Ajiro-hama, Wakayama, Japan
2015 “THE HOLE” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2014 CAPSULE, Tokyo, Japan
2012 “Hahaha at Hyperspeed” Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan
2011 “Smelling Mildly” Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2010 “TKG Project #2” Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto, Japan
2009 Wakayama Marina City, Wakayama, Japan
“Naturally J” Art Jam Contemporary, Tokyo, Japan

Group Exhibitions

2023 “Dreamscape Estuary” Unit London, UK
“KWAIDAN - Encounters with, Lafcadio Hearn”
Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Matsue, Shimane, Japan
“YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2022-2023” Okinawa, Japan
2022 “The Tale of Tales” G Museum, Nanjing, China
“1010” Kousagisya Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
2021 “YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL 2021-2022” Okinawa, Japan
“A Couple of: The Dual-mechanism of the New Generation of Asian Artists” HIVE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Beijing, China
“萬華鏡 KALEIDOSCOPE” YIRI ARTS, Taiwan
2020 “The Splendid Mountain” Hiro Hiro Art Space, Taipei City, Taiwan
“Breaksenya in Hillside Terrace” Hillside Terrace, Tokyo, Japan
“A triangular pyramid” @MEDIA SHOP | gallery2, Kyoto, Japan
2019 “24th HEART EXHIBITION” Tokyu Department Store Shibuya Main Store, Tokyo, Japan [traveled to multiple venues in Japan]
“Aya Ito & Richard Gorman: Sea Both Sides: Nothing can be everything, everything can be nothing” 8/ ART GALLERY/ Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2017 “AYA ITO & ATSUSHI KAGA IT HAPPENS TO BE” Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin, Ireland
“Rokko Meets Art 2017” Mt. Rokko, Kobe, Japan
2015 “Really Realistic Reality” The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan
2013 “Cho-Kyoto 2013, Contemporary Art @ Today's Machiya in Kyoto” Today's Machiya in Kyoto, Model House Exhibition Place KYOMO, Kyoto, Japan
“D Art Biennale 3rd exhibition” Daitec Sakae, Aichi, Japan
2012 “TOKYO FRONTLINE 2012” 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
2011 “Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011” Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi, Tokyo, Japan
“ROKKO MEETS ART 2011” Hyogo, Japan
“Cho-Kyoto” Shosei-en Garden (Kikoku-tei, Higashihonganji), Kyoto, Japan
2010 “Resonance” Suntory Museum, Osaka, Japan
“VOCA 2010” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, Japan
“Bank of Kyoto Artist Support Program” The Bank of Kyoto Head Office, Kyoto, Japan
2009 “Montblanc Young Artist Patronage in Japan” Montblac GINZA, Tokyo, Japan
“Art Award Tokyo” Gyoukou Chika Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
ART ZONE, Kyoto, Japan
2008 “Sensuous” AD&A Gallery, Osaka, Japan
2007 gallery FUCHOAN, Kyoto, Japan
“Art Camp in Kunst-Bau” Suntory Museum, Osaka, Japan
2006 Gallery IRORIMURA, Osaka, Japan

Public Collections

Hotel Shinwaka Lodge, Wakayama, Japan
Oike Clinic Ladies Plaza, Kyoto, Japan
The Bank of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Japan
The JAPIGOZZI Collection, Japan
Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan
Montblanc Japan

Awards

2022 Arida City Cultural Award, Distinguished Service Award
2021 Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Cultural Encouragement Award
2011 Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2011 shu uemura Prize, Judge's prize (Yuko Hasegawa)
2009 Art Award Tokyo, Runner-up Prize
2007 Art Camp in Kunst-Bau, Suntory Prize