OIL by Bijutsu Techo Gallery, located on the 2nd floor of Shibuya PARCO, is hosting a solo exhibition by artist Masanao Hirayama titled "Takamatsu, Baby 2" from June 12 (Friday) to July 5 (Sunday), 2026.
Overview
Hirayama creates works characterized by simplified, symbol-like forms and the distinctive lines of hand-lettered text, using everyday materials such as paper and markers. Rather than copying what he sees directly, he reshapes forms by drawing them into his own sensibility — an approach that, behind its humorous and light impression, harbors a perspective that recalibrates how things appear and how distance is perceived.
"Takamatsu, Baby 2" follows on from his 2024 exhibition ("Takamatsu, Baby" at Syndicate, Takamatsu, Kagawa), and this installment centers on color works. Four new color pieces are on view — including Number Quiz and Color Quiz, made for his daughter as she began developing an interest in numbers and colors, and TAKAMATSU, a coloring-book-style work based on a memory of visiting a dolphin show together — alongside a mobile (a rotating three-dimensional work) that draws from the world of Matisse.
Artist Statement
"The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than loving people." — Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
When I was 25, I traveled to Utrecht to meet picture-book author Dick Bruna (1927–2017). Bruna visited Henri Matisse's (1869–1954) Rosary Chapel in his twenties, where he was influenced by cut-outs and vivid colors and began aiming for simplicity in color and form. He then completed Nijntje (Miffy) (1955) on the occasion of his son's birth.
It is common for others to influence how a work comes into being. In the midst of raising my daughter, I received hints from her, and from those hints I made works dedicated to her. These are both artworks and everyday objects.
Dance Mobile and Baby's ART were made as tools to soothe my newborn daughter. Then, to learn together as she grew a little older, I made Number Quiz and Color Quiz. TAKAMATSU (Nieves, Dorsia, 2026) is a coloring book based on a memory of going to a dolphin show with my daughter.
— Masanao Hirayama
Artist Profile
Masanao Hirayama
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1976, based in Kagawa Prefecture. Works in painting and performance.
Selected solo exhibitions include "Nice" at Yvon Lambert (Paris, 2024), "Nice" at Gallery αM (Tokyo, 2023), "Machi no e" at clinic (Tokyo, 2022), "NFT" at NADiff Window Gallery (Tokyo, 2022), "1–4" at VOILLD (Tokyo, 2020), "Card" at TALION GALLERY (Tokyo, 2018), and "Book Show" at Nieves (Zurich, 2017) / Utrecht (Tokyo, 2017). Selected group exhibitions include "Masanao Hirayama × Teppei Soutome" at OBG eu. (Hyogo, 2022), "101 to 101" at nidi gallery (Tokyo, 2021), "Optimism Technique" at BnA Alter Museum (Kyoto, 2020), "Thinking Drawing" at Sapporo Odori Underground Gallery 500m Museum of Art (Hokkaido, 2019), "#12 Post-Formalist Painting" at statements (Tokyo, 2017), and "Sylvanian Families Biennale 2017" at XYZ collective (Tokyo, 2017).
Merchandise
New merchandise using works from the exhibition — including tote bags, bandanas, and a sticker set — will be available at the venue.
Tote bag ¥4,400 (tax included)
Bandana ¥3,300 (tax included)
Sticker set of 8 ¥2,200 (tax included)
In-store sales: June 12 (Friday) – July 5 (Sunday)
Online sales (OIL): June 19 (Friday) 4:00 PM – July 5 (Sunday) 8:00 PM
https://oil.bijutsutecho.com/gallery/733
Note: Online sales begin after in-store sales have started, so some items may already be sold out by the time they appear online. Dates and times are subject to change.
Exhibition Details
Masanao Hirayama: "Takamatsu, Baby 2"
Dates: June 12 (Friday) – July 5 (Sunday), 2026 (no closures during the exhibition period)
Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Venue: OIL by Bijutsu Techo Gallery (Shibuya PARCO 2F, 15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042)
Access: 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station Hachiko Exit
Admission: Free
