Aya Kawato

Born in Nara, Japan in 1988. Lives and works in Kyoto. Influenced by her father, a neuroscientist, Kawato became keenly aware of the fact that people perceive the world through their brains. After studying traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving in Kyoto, she completed an exchange program at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris. In 2019, she received her PhD from the Department of Intermedia Art at the graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts.

2019

Ph.D, Intermedia Art, Graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts

2015

MFA, Intermedia Art, Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts

2014

École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris, Student Exchange Program

2011

BFA, Textile Course, Faculty of Art, Kyoto Seika University

Based on the theme “Control and Imperfection,” her practice focuses on abstract grid paintings grounded in traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving as well as in contemporary neuroscience. Recently, she held solo exhibitions at project N, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery and The Triangle, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, as well as in New York, Paris and Geneva. She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions including The Secrets of Color from Impressionism to Contemporary Art, Pola Museum of Art (Kanagawa, Japan) in 2024, Nippon Mania. Contemporary Art from Japan, Kunsthaus Kaufbeuren (Kaufbeuren, Germany) in 2023 and Rêver 2074, FIAC 2017 / Grand Palais (Paris, France) in 2017. Major collections housing her art include those of CHANEL G.K. and The University Art Museum at Tokyo University of the Arts. Commissioned Works include the State Guest House, EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (Osaka, Japan) in 2025, Longchamp Wien (Vienna, Austria) in 2021, Meta Open Arts Commission / Facebook (Tokyo, Japan) in 2020, LONGCHAMP / La Maison Ginza (Tokyo, Japan) in 2019. Awards include the Nomura Art Prize bestowed by the Nomura Foundation in 2018, the Grand Prix at Rêver 2074 given by Comité Colbert and Tokyo University of the Arts in 2017, and the Tomio Koyama Prize at the 11th TAGBOAT AWARD Exhibition held by TAGBOAT in 2016.