Marimo Sato

The works of Marimo Sato explore a pictorial space aimed at the "future", focusing on the relationship between color and texture in oil painting by liberating themselves from the categories of representational and abstract art. Since childhood, Sato has been captivated by landscapes reflecting dazzling light, scenes illuminated by the moon and stars, and the transient nature of Japan's four seasons. Her use of color is exquisitely delicate, with adjacent hues amplifying or softening their radiance, creating an infinitely evolving interplay. 

I paint flowers and landscapes. To me, flowers symbolize hope. They seem to embody an invisible life force of light, with the radiance of plants basking in sunlight and the mystery of plants at night. 

In my creative process, I visit places where flowers bloom and venture into fields and mountains, drawing inspiration from the landscapes I encounter. I incorporate elements of reverence for nature and the vision of an ideal inner landscape, striving to depict the harmony of color and texture as a path leading to the brilliance of the soul. 

One characteristic of Japanese culture is its historical ability to swiftly assimilate foreign influences and refine them with a unique sophistication, transforming them into highly creative cultural expressions. 

Marimo Sato draws inspiration from Impressionist landscapes and the brushstrokes of postwar American Abstract Expressionism to embody her perspective on nature, elevating these influences into paintings that are truly one of a kind. 

In this way, the cultural "DNA" of secondary creation, born from Japan’s natural environment, continues to thrive and be passed down through generations of contemporary Japanese artists.

 


 

Recent Major Solo Exhibitions 

2022: “Garden of the Soul”, GALLERY KTO, Tokyo 

2023: “Transparent Blue Bird”, GALLERY KTO, Tokyo 

2024: “MIRROR”, emmy art +, Tokyo 

 

Awards 

2010: Selected for the 23rd “Painting Japan’s Nature” Exhibition, Ueno Royal Museum 

2011: Honorable Mention, ACT Art Award Exhibition, The Artcomplex Center Tokyo 

2012: Special Jury Encouragement Prize, ACT Art Award Exhibition, The Art complex Center Tokyo