Soo MOMOYAMA

Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture in 1969.

He graduated from the Department of Design, Faculty of Art and Design at Tokyo Zokei University in 1991.

Through his work, Momoiyama Mitsuru seeks to share with viewers the concerns and questions he holds about contemporary society, hoping that a deeper sense of empathy will emerge—along with new perspectives and possibilities—regarding the issues we collectively face. For this reason, he is committed to creating works that do not remain self-contained, employing universal and accessible methods of expression.

He is currently focusing on the creation of his Hanakabuto® series, born from a sense of crisis regarding the possibility that the world may be heading toward a more oppressive future.

Hanakabuto® — Trademark Registration No. 6724996

Momoiyama’s works reflect the way various cultures and religions were brought from the Asian continent to Japan and continue to influence modern thought. His pieces are imbued throughout with layers of philosophical reflection.

The Hanakabuto® series he now centers his practice on is not a helmet for battle, but a symbolic protector of children and a vessel for hope toward the future—conceived as a platform that can expand circles of empathy.

In addition, he incorporates multiple layers of meaning by drawing upon influences such as Buddhism and auspicious motifs introduced from the continent during the Asuka period, as well as compositional elements found in later ukiyo-e prints.

Based in Tokyo, he actively develops his artistic practice both in Japan and abroad.

He has held the solo exhibition “New Auspicious Birth — Hanakabuto®・Beard・Me ∞” (2025, Empathy Gallery / Tokyo) and has participated in many group exhibitions and art fairs, including “Spectrum Miami” (2017, Miami), “FACE Exhibition Selected Artists Small Works” (2022, Reijinsha Gallery / Tokyo), and “Early Summer Breeze Exhibition”(2023, Kobayashi Gallery / Tokyo).

He has also produced public artworks, such as decorative mural paintings for the Gunma Prefectural Museum of History (2016) and a chronological mural for the Kariya City Museum of History (2019).

He has received numerous awards, including:

— Salon d’Automne, Painting and Photography Divisions, Selected (2018)
— Taburou Exhibition, Prime Minister’s Award (2023)
— Le Salon, Bronze Prize (2023)