Ambassador

Yujiro Ueno

Yujiro Ueno is our newest Royal Talens ambassador. His work captures the fluid interplay of matter and spirit, where creatures embody "ki" (internal energy) and engage with the world. Merging Eastern and Western traditions, his dynamic brushstrokes bring together themes of yin and yang, past and present, concrete and abstract, creating a contemporary expression that honors and reinterprets cultural legacies.

About Yujiro Ueno

Born in 1996 in Kyoto, Japan, Yujiro Ueno earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, majoring in oil painting at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts in 2019. He then obtained a Master's degree in Fine Arts, majoring in art theory at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2021. Yujiro has received several accolades, including the Sogyo Prize at the 69th Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibition, the TURNER AWARD in 2019 and 2020, and the Young Creators Award 2020 (MI Gallery Prize). In 2024, he held a solo exhibition titled “Transformed Legacy” at Kyoto Tsutaya Books Exhibition Space.

Empowering creativity

"In contrast to the Western art's significant concern with how to express existence, in the East, there has been a longstanding belief that matter and spirit are inseparable, giving rise to the idea of 'ki' (internal energy) where everything is considered fluid and mutually influential. I primarily focus on creatures, both real and imaginary, as motifs in my expression. The main themes revolve around the 'ki' they possess, their interactions with the external world, and delving into the flow of material and spiritual aspects in a more conceptual sense.

"The concept of 'ki' is closely tied to the philosophy of explaining the elements of the world through yin and yang. In my works, I incorporate contrasting concepts such as yin and yang, East and West, past and present, concrete and abstract, existence and non-existence. To express these ideas, I focus on the brushstroke as a means to liberate my own senses, employing a technique of layering them in a multifaceted manner.

"I refer to the tradition of Eastern painting, which captures the vitality of the subject through brushstrokes. While referencing the context of Western painting in terms of materials and techniques. My intention is to present a contemporary expression that inherits history and culture, merging both traditions into a new form."

Awards

2023: The work “Vortex -Two Dragons-” was donated to Macao Museum of Art / Macao
2021: 69th Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibition (Sogyo Prize)
2020:
- TURNER AWARD 2020
- Young Creators Award 2020 (MI Gallery Prize)
- LIQUITEX THE CHALLENGE 2020 (LIQUITEX Prize, University division)
- The 7th Mirai-ten (Future Exhibition) - Galerie Nichido Art (Selected)
- 47th Mitsubishi Corporation ART GATE Program (Selected)
- 3331 Art Fair 2020 Collector Prize (Two awards)
2019:
- TURNER AWARD 2019
- 46th Mitsubishi Corporation ART GATE Program (Selected)
- Saitama Art Program (Selected)
- 2019 Mitsubishi Corporation ART GATE Program scholarship winner
- The 6th Mirai-ten (Future Exhibition) - Galerie Nichido Art (Selected)
2018:
- 6th DISCOVER THE ONE JAPANESE ART 2018 in Paris /France Paris Le Marais Galerie JOSEPH minimes (Special Award)
- 11th Naha Shimin Art Exhibition (Two awards)
2017:
- 13th The World Art Exhibition (Selected)
- 22th ART MOVE competition (Dime Award)

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Yujiro Ueno solo exhibition “Transformed Legacy” Kyoto Tsutaya Books Exhibition Space /Kyoto
2023 Yujiro Ueno solo exhibition “Evoke the Invisibles” Nihombashi Mitsukoshi /Tokyo
2023 ART MACAO 2023 An Experience in Connection "Synergistic Rhythm" Tap Seac Gallery /Macao
2023 Yujiro Ueno solo exhibition “Clash of Two Spirits” Ginza Tsutaya Books ATRIUM /Tokyo
2022 Yujiro Ueno Solo Exhibition-New Scope of Paintings SHIKISAISHA GALLERY /Tokyo
2022 Yujiro Ueno Solo Exhibition Nihombashi Mitsukoshi/ Tokyo
2021 Yujiro Ueno Solo Exhibition-Surge, Ginza Tsutaya Books Tokyo /Tokyo
2021 Yujiro Ueno Solo Exhibition, Frederick Harris Gallery Tokyo American Club/Tokyo
2018 Yujiro Ueno Solo Exhibition, exhibition room Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts/Okinawa

Selected Group exhibitions & Art Fairs

2024

Beijing Dangdai Art Fair 2024/Beijing
ART ONO Fair 2024/Seoul

2023

ART021 SHANGHAI CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR 2023/Shanghai
ART TAIPEI 2023 /Taipei
Affordable Art Fair 2023/Shanghai

2022

ART TAICHUNG 2022 /Taichung
ONE ART TAIPEI 2022 /Taipei
Yujiro Ueno, suma group exhibitions-Resonance, ECLECTIC CAFÉ ERIC ROSE /Tokyo

2021

60th MINION Exhibition, Galerie Nichido Art /Tokyo
Shinkaron Exhibition, Gallery Ishikawa /Tokyo
Owls 2021 Exhibition SHIKISAISHA GALLERY /Tokyo

2020

59th MINION Exhibition, Galerie Nichido Art /Tokyo
LIFE FORM Exhibition, GALLERY ART POINT /Tokyo
GALLERY ART POINT group exhibition, GALLERY ART POINT /Tokyo
ART colours Vol. 32 Spring Exhibition, Spring has come- THE Royal Park ICONIC /Tokyo
3331 Art Fair 2020/3331 Arts Chiyoda /Tokyo

2019

ART GAIA Modern Art Exhibition, ART FACTORY Jonanjima Gallery /Tokyo
58th MINION Exhibition, Galerie Nichido Art /Tokyo
Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Faculty of Arts and Crafts, Graduate School Formative Arts 30th Graduation Exhibition, Okinawa Prefectural Art Museum /Okinawa
DISCOVER THE ONE JAPANESE ART in PARIS Awarded Artist Exhibition, Tanaka Yaesu Garou /Paris