See You Again
Year: 2016
Material/Technique: Acrylic, Canvas
Size: 132.1 × 96.5 cm
Edition: Unique
Signed:Included
About the Work
- Year
- 2016
- Material/Technique
- Acrylic, Canvas
- Size
- 132.1 × 96.5 cm
- Edition
- Unique
- Signed
- Included
- Frame
- Not Included
- Work Certificate
- Included
- Category
- Painting
Work Details
Ryoko Endo gestural abstract paintings are constructed with a controlled yet fluid mark-making, reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy. The artist layers exuberant marks, strokes, and dabs with a fluent touch. Endo’s paintings are built-up with opaque and translucent layers of acrylic paint; the varied thicknesses of brushstrokes and pigments create a striking dynamism. The artist’s lifelong study of chromatic relationships informs her bold approach to color and structure: her mentor Kaikuo Saito - a second-generation Abstract Expressionist, employed vibrant colors to create large, immersive canvases. Endo works at the juncture of meditative Sumi calligraphy and energetic Abstract Expressionism, producing saturated colorscapes that are both precise and expressive. Given the hybridity of the forms and traditions Endo channels, her work creates a visual experience that is simultaneously contemplative and charged, deliberate and spontaneous—loose in gesture yet anchored in formal discipline.
In See You Again, the brushwork is free and loose, creating gestural marks woven into tangled nets of color. The artist combines light pink, crimson, orange, and yellow in an active dialogue and intentional engagement with the ground. The composition is punctuated by clustered brushstrokes of white, gray, and purple acrylic, offset by occasional blue and brown accents. Through layered applications of paint and diffuse blending techniques, Endo creates varied tones and textures. The combination of soft, gradual edges and sharp, defined ones, alongside variations in color and form, produce a sense of depth and dimension. Transitions between the warm hues and cool hues animate the colored ground and establish visually intense focal points in the center and corners of the canvas.
Exhibition Information
- Current Exhibition
- Tokyo Gendai09.11.2026 - 09.13
View in a Room
Artist
Artist
Driven by a deep passion for the creative process, which is evident in her abstract paintings, Ryoko Endo (b. 1951)’s work reflects a lifelong exploration of color relationships and the dynamic energy conveyed through human gestures. For Endo, painting serves as a powerful method of communication, and her understanding of color relationships has been shaped and enriched by the guidance of Kiku Saito, a second-generation abstract expressionist. Ryoko Endo (b. 1951, Fukushima, Japan) is a Japanese-American abstract painter based in New York City since 1994. Her work is characterized by vibrant color fields, dynamic brushwork, and an interest in the expressive potential of acrylic paint. Born into a traditional family in Fukushima, Endo was encouraged by her mother to use her right hand instead of her dominant left, leading her to develop ambidextrous painting skills, a distinctive and defining feature of her practice. She began her artistic journey with traditional Sumi ink calligraphy, a discipline that inspired her meditative approach to brushwork. Sumi ink calligraphy is an art form rooted in precision and rhythm. This foundation evolved into a fluid and expressive style applied to acrylic painting. Upon relocating to New York City, Endo studied under Kikuo Saito, a second-generation Abstract Expressionist artist. Saito influenced Endo’s understanding of color dynamics and compositional structure. Endo's work embodies a synthesis of Eastern calligraphic traditions and Western abstract expressionism. Her art continues to explore the union between color and movement. Her compositions unfold as expansive and layered fields of color with gestural and emotional intensity. Given the hybridity of the forms and traditions she channels, the work creates a visual experience that is meditative and charged with expressive energy. Ryoko Endo began her artistic training in graphic design and typography at Musashino Art University before pursuing painting at the Art Students League in New York. Endo has been honored with scholarships from the Fantasy Fountain Fund and the Trudy and Henry Gillette Painting Scholarship, as well as a grant from Lloyd Sherwood. She is also a recipient of the Red and Blue Dot Awards from the Art Students League. Her artwork is part of the permanent collection at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.
See artist information
