Keita Morimoto
OVERVIEW
Keita Morimoto is best known for his cityscapes and portraits painted with theatrical light that is reminiscent of Rembrandt and Edward Hopper. He brings classical techniques into the present and transforms mundane streets into extraordinary worlds. Through his practice, Morimoto questions the structural fragility and moral codes of contemporary life by focusing his attention on everyday subjects such as vending machines, fast food restaurants and parking lots. Using the historically symbolic motif of light, he combines its natural and sacred connotations with products of consumerist and industrial culture. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA), Art Gallery of Peterborough, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, and Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
HISTORY
2022
In Between Shadows, ATM Gallery, New York, USA
Contrasting Memories, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2021
After Dark, KOTARO NUKAGA, Tokyo, Japan
2020
Garden of Lights, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2018
Light Passage, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2016
Strange Guild, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2014
Oasis, Galerie Youn, Montreal, Canada
The Nightwatchers, Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto, Canada
2022
Under Current, Powerlong Museum, Shanghai, China
What It Could Be, Theaster Gates Stony Island Arts Bank, Chicago, USA
Escape From New York, Another Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Romancing Relevance, WOAW Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2018
These things I have seen, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, USA
2016
RBC Canadian Painting Exhibition, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
About Face, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2015
Invisible College, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, USA
2014
Superhuman, Plus Gallery, Denver, USA
2014
LAX / TXL, Urban Nation, Berlin, Germany
2013
Toronto: Out-of-Doors, Al Green Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Bell Trinity Square Permanent Public Installation, Toronto
Urban Nation Museum, Berlin
The Bora Family Collection, Istanbul
Stikeman Elliot LLP, Toronto
Ninepoint Partners LP, Toronto
Loyalty One, Toronto
Infor Financial Group, Toronto
WORKS
NEWS
Notice of Extended Exhibition: November 20, 2021 – January 29, 2022
KOTARO NUKAGA is pleased to announce the current exhibition ‘After Dark’ by Keita Morimoto has been extended to Saturday, January 29 (Sat). Morimoto extends the motif of “light” not only to natural and sacred phenomena, but also to the objects that attract people in today’s consumer society, such as vending machines, fast food restaurants, or electric signs
Keita Morimoto ‘After Dark’
From November 20 to December 25, 2021, KOTARO NUKAGA, Tennoz is pleased to present ‘After Dark,’ a solo exhibition by Keita Morimoto. After 15 years in Canada, the artist has returned to Japan this year to unveil 21 new paintings at his first ever solo exhibition in his home country. Learn more Exhibiton Outline