Takehiro Iikawa
OVERVIEW
Takehiro Iikawa （b. 1981, Hyogo, Japan） is a contemporary artist based in Kobe.
Since 2007, he has been developing the “Decorator Crab” series. Focusing on public space and exhibition structures, his works explore how they are transformed through the viewer’ s bodily perception, imagination, and the contingencies of the site. Notable works include “Decorator Crab – Expecting Spectators”, which transforms the state of space and objects and establishes new relationships through the active engagement of viewers, and “Decorator Crab – Arrangement, Adjustment, Movement,” in which viewers interpret space through fragments of visual information. Major solo exhibitions include ‘Measuring the Future, Pulling Time,’ Kirishima Open-Air Museum, Kagoshima （2023） and ‘Occurring simultaneously or awareness being delayed,’ the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Kanagawa（ 2022）. Major group exhibitions include ‘Range of the Senses: What It Means to “Experience” Today,’ the National Museum of Art, Osaka（2022）and ‘Yokohama Triennale 2020,’ Yokohama Museum of Art & PLOT48 （2020）. Currently there are three solo exhibi tions held concurrently: ‘Takehiro Iikawa: Gathering Mat ters and Mediations,’ Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito, ‘Decorator Crab: Contents of a Heavy Bag,’ KOTARO NUKAGA, Tennoz, and ‘Takehiro Iikawa | Decorator Crab: No Two Alike,’ gallery αM.
HISTORY
2026
‘DECORATOR CRAB: No Two Alike gallery αM’, Tokyo, Japan
‘Gathering Matters and Mediations’, Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
‘Decorator Crab: The Heavy Bag’, KOTARO NUKAGA, Tokyo , Japan
‘Yokohama, Cat, Ping-Pong Table’, Art Center NEW, Kanagawa, Japan
2025
‘inside space’, galerie monument, Bangkok, Thailand
‘Make Space, Use Space’, Artemin Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2024
‘I wonder if you would be able to communicate to someone about the “impulse” that you may feel when encountering the decorator crab’, Gallery TURNAROUND, Miyagi, Japan
‘DECORATOR CRAB’, Gallery Nomart, Osaka, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – Expanded Work’, LIVE ART GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – Shop’, Takamatsu Art Museum Branch Gallery, Kagawa, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – New Display’, CAPSULE, Tokyo, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – Guide Book’, Matsubagawa Hotel, Kochi, Japan
2023
‘DECORATOR CRAB: Measuring the Future, Pulling Time’, The Kirishima Open Air Museum, Kagoshima, Japan
2022
‘DECORATOR CRAB: Occurring Simultaneously or awareness being delayed’, THE HAKONE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM, Kanagawa, Japan
‘DECORATOR CRAB: Make Space, Use Space’, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo, Japan
2021
‘Dokokade? Genbi Video Art Project: Takehiro Iikawa‘, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art Tsurumi Annex 101, Hiroshima, Japan
‘Art Lab 04: DECORATOR CRAB – Expecting Spectator’, Chiba City Museum of Art, Chiba, Japan
2020
‘DECORATOR CRAB – Intercepting Perception’, TAKAMATSU ART MUSEUM, Kagawa, Japan
‘KAAT Atrium Video Art Project: Takehiro Iikawa’, Kanagawa Arts Theatre（KAAT）, Kanagawa, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – Mr. Kobayashi the Pink Cat‘, Namiki Clinic, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
‘Decorator Crab – Mr. Kobayashi the Pink Cat -Park Line in Taichung City‘, Taiwan
2025
‘Art Project “A Day”‘, Zama City Office / Ebina Central Park / Vina Walk, Kanagawa, Japan
2024
‘Micro Salon’, CADAN YURAKUCHO, Tokyo, Japan
‘Resonant Superposition’, Kaohsiung Harbour Tourism Centre, Taiwan（Cooperation venue: Neiwei Art Center, Kaohsiung / Artemin Gallery, Taipei）
‘The Blue Sky, Count of Ten’, TALION GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan
‘Nomart 35th Anv.2: All Stars – RESONANCE’, Gallery Nomart, Osaka, Japan
‘Nomart 35th Anv.1 – The Poet, The Artist and The Pianist’, Gallery Nomart, Osaka, Japan
‘Imagining the unseen everyday’, Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
‘What’s Art?’, Tottori Prefectural Museum, Tottori, Japan
2023
‘Re-presentation-site: Reflecting On Long-term Projects During The Museum’s Closure’, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art Tsurumi Annex 101, Hiroshima, Japan
‘New Places’, Art Gallery Miyauchi, Hiroshima, Japan
2022
‘ATAMI ART GRANT 2022’, ACAO Spa & Resort, Shizuoka, Japan
‘Range of the Senses: What It Means to “Experience” Today’, The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan
2021
‘Sumida Mukojima Expo 2021’, Tokyo, Japan
2020
‘Yokohama Triennale 2020—Afterglow’, Yokohama Museum of Art & PLOT 48, Kanagawa, Japan
2019
‘Roppongi Crossing 2019: Connexions’, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
‘The Seven Lamps of The Art Museum‘, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
‘Sapporo Art Stage 2019‘, Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS, Hokkaido, Japan
Hiroshima MOCA, Hiroshima, Japan
Takamatsu Art Museum, Kagawa, Japan
WORKS
NEWS
Notice of Extension of Period – ‘Decorator Crab: The Heavy Bag’
Takehiro Iikawa ‘Decorator Crab: The Heavy Bag’ currently being held at KOTARO NUKAGA Tennoz will be extended until May 30, 2026. We look forward to seeing you there.
Takehiro Iikawa 'Decorator Crab: The Heavy Bag'
KOTARO NUKAGA is pleased to present ‘Decorator Crab: The Heavy Bag’, a solo exhibition by Takehiro Iikawa, from April 4 – May 23, 2026, across two venues: Tennoz and Three. By incorporating unpredictable events and experiences, he consistently aims to stimulate the thoughts and actions of the viewers. His works shift with each site and
KOTARO NUKAGA to participate in 'ART FAIR TOKYO 20'
KOTARO NUKAGA is pleased to announce its participation in ART FAIR TOKYO 20, held at the Tokyo International Forum from March 13 to March 15, 2026. ART FAIR TOKYO is one of the largest art fairs in Japan, showcasing a wide range of artworks that cross eras and genres. For this presentation, under the theme “Narratives Woven by Meshwork,” KOTARO NUKAGA will introduce
Takehiro Iikawa's solo exhibition ‘Gathering Matters and Mediations’ will be held at Art Tower Mito
Takehiro Iikawa’s solo exhibition ‘Gathering Matters and Mediations’ will be held at Art Tower Mito from February 28 to May 6, 2026. 【EXHIBITION DETAILS】 Title: ‘Gathering Matters and Mediations’ Venue: Art Tower Mito Period: February 28 – May 6, 2026 Hours: 10:00 – 18:00（no admittance after 17:30） Closing day: Mondays（Tuesdays if Monday is a
Takehiro Iikawa's Project Featured on TRAIN TV ‘KORE-BI’
Takehiro Iikawa’s project, Decoratorcrab – Mr. Kobayashi, The Pink Cat – was featured on TRAIN TV ‘KORE-BI’. The program aired from June 2 to 9, 2025 on major JR East lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and catch-up streaming is currently available on the official website. 【DETAILS】 Streaming Period: June 9, 2025 – June 9,
KOTARO NUKAGA to participate in 'Art Busan'
KOTARO NUKAGA is pleased to announce our participation in ART BUSAN 2025, an international art fair held in BEXCO, Busan, South Korea from May 9 to 11. KOTARO NUKAGA will present works by 7 artists: Mariko Kobayashi, Maiko Kasai, Takehito Koganezawa, Takehiro Iikawa, Tomona Matsukawa, New York based artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, and Rember Yahuarcani, an