Chiharu Nishizawa is a Japanese artist who lives in Yokohama. He was born in Nagano in 1970. He graduated with a major in painting from Tokyo Zokei University and then trained as a printmaker. He has an instantly recognisable style, depicting humorous groups of people all wearing the same uniform floating against a bright-coloured background. The influence of his printmaking background can be seen in the clear edge of the depicted figures. It is also possible to recognise the influence that Japanese historical painting has had on his composition, often presented from a bird’s-eye view. He aims to create the new style of Japanese painting based on his history as a Japanese.

Education

1993

Painting Major, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Zokei (Art and Design), Tokyo Zokei University, Japan

1995

Post Graduate Course in Printing Major, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Zokei, Tokyo Zokei University, Japan

1997

Artists in Residence Program, Art Studio Itsukaichi, Tokyo, Japan

Selected  Exhibitions

2005

ARCO’05, Madrid, Spain

2004

VOCA, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, Japan

2003

Project N, ART GALLERY TOKYO OPERA CITY, Tokyo, Japan

Art Jam, Gallery Yamaguchi, Tokyo, Japan

Play not Play, Beijing Tokyo Art Projects, Beijing, PRC

Gallery Review, Art Space RASHINNBANN, Tokyo, Japan

2002

Local Artists Exhibition, Kamiyamada Cultural Hall, Nagano, Japan

Diorama, Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan

2001

Anotherday, Gallery Yamaguchi, Tokyo

The 6th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001, SOKO Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

Hanga-teki, Naruse Bijutsu-Za, Tokyo, Japan

2000

The 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001, SOKO Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

Prints, Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan

1999

Harajuku Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

1998

Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan

1997

Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan

1993

4th Poster Competition, Maison Franco-Japonaise, Tokyo

2nd Sapporo International Print Biennial, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo

Awards

2004

The Vision of Contemporary Art

1993

The 2nd Sapporo International Print Biennial

The 4th Poster Competition, Maison Franco-Japonaise