Interviews

Jannes van Arkel is the unexpected new artist of Sato Gallery! Dutch, rebellious, free, young and very talented. Born in Rotterdam, in 1997, the year of the ox - a very good year to be born, according to him -  Jannes grew up in an artistic family that traveled a lot to far places. 

When I immigrated to the United States, I never imagined that I would pursue becoming an artist in New York City.

After graduating design school in Osaka, Mayumi Nakao (b. 1985, Kobe) realized her long-held dream of living abroad and moved to New York alone in 2013.

Encounters with artists from all over the world who came to New York to pursue their artistic dreams significantly changed her life. Inspired by their work and passionate efforts, she enrolled in the Art Students League where she began creating works using oil painting techniques. 

"I STRONGLY FEEL THE POWER OF COLORS, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED. SINCE THERE ARE INFINITE COMBINATIONS, I WANT TO CONVEY THEIR POWER EACH TIME."

Saiko Otake, who lived amidst the slow flow of time in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, developed her interest in nature. She frequently visited her father's hometown of Tokyo from a young age, growing up influenced by both places. Learning the joy of drawing and crafting from her artist father, she naturally acquired a rich sensibility and expressive ability.

From the time he could hold a pen, French/Japanese artist Victor Takeru (born in 1998) dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. However, he soon realized that he lacked the patience required for crafting stories and decided to pursue a career as an artist. His style is an intriguing fusion of influences, drawing from Japanese (manga) artists like Matsumoto Taiyo, contemporary artists such as David Hockney and Claire Tabouret, and the dynamic world of street art, resulting in a unique bicultural approach.

Sato Gallery welcomes its youngest artist, Victor Takeru, into the family. As of October 27th, Takeru's artworks will be showcased in Rotterdam, and we had the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss his young but promising artistic journey.

September 8th we opened Almost Transparent Blue, an exhibition by Japanese/Venezuelan artist Efrain Vivas Hattori. Here are some photos of the installation! 

We met Efrain Vivas Hattori  (1991) in 2019, on the sofa of a mutual friend in Paris. Late night drinks. He was living in Amsterdam at that time and on a trip. He was acquainted with Daijiro Hama - one of our longtime artists - who was there as well and who had invited him.  

When he showed us his work, we were touched by the aesthetics and by the wildness of it. We discovered the structure of a map, but we could’t figure if it resembled a mind or a home. He seemed a rough diamond. An eccentric character. Someone we wanted to watch.

Exciting news! Sato Gallery is opening a showroom in Rotterdam! 
On Friday May 19th, from 16.00 CET we celebrate our new space with the exhibition "Tokyo Ukiyo.e". 

From February 8-18 Sato Gallery presented its first Rotterdam based project: INNER FRIENDS, a duo exhibition featuring the work of French artist Samy San and Japanese artist Daijiro Hama, during Rotterdam Art Week. 

Yoshinori Tanaka (1978), founder of artist collective EXCALIBUR , was born and raised in Motoise, a part of Japan situated close to the sea. Shintoism has its origins there and is rooted deeper and more profoundly than elsewhere in Japan. 

Although a lot of Japanese would say that Shintoism is part of them, not many grow up surrounded by its history such as Yoshinori did.

Hidden in the swirling back streets of one of Tokyo’s lively neighbourhoods one can find a printing studio that makes dreams come true.

Takeru Amano (1977) is about 10 years old when he visits an exhibition of Keith Haring in a department store in Tokyo. What he witnesses makes a lasting impression. Haring uses the walls of the store to paint on. So instead of using paper, the young Takeru decides to spray-paint some flowers on the walls of the local swimming pool.

It marks the beginning of his colourful career.

 Shimane prefecture is a magical place full of shrines and with a solid base of ancient legends. Situated in the south of Japan, somewhat above Hiroshima, it is the place where Daijiro Hama (1984) had his yōkai (monsters) fuelled childhood and where he learned about legends that would stick with him forever.

The best ideas arise at night and such was the case with Julien Sato. Working in Tokyo’s dazzling nightlife from a young age, he initiated events where both his passion for art and music could meet...