Kadota Mitsumasa

Japan •

Artist (Painting) •

Born 1980 •

Born in 1980 in Shizuoka, Japan, Mitsumasa Kadota has built an artistic career defined by a relentless pursuit of new horizons in the realm of painting. Early memories—such as the striking image of a toppled camphor tree whose exposed roots, resembling sheer cliffs, served as a haven for countless crabs—profoundly shaped his view of the visible and the hidden. For Kadota, just as a tree’s unseen roots sustain its life, personal experiences and histories, often overlooked at first glance, harbor deep, transformative meanings waiting to be rediscovered.

Kadota’s work boldly navigates the traditional limits of painting, challenging established boundaries and reimagining the relationship between color, gesture, and form. Inspired by the notion that every ending signals the start of something new—much like Marcel Duchamp’s revolutionary reorientation of an everyday object—he shows us that what might appear as a downfall or imperfection can, in fact, evolve into an expression of beauty and renewed purpose.

Grounded in a solid academic foundation from Tokyo Zokei University—where he earned both his B.F.A. in Painting and completed a research program—Kadota’s journey has been punctuated by significant exhibitions on both national and international stages.

His solo and group shows have graced prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center in New York, as well as galleries and museums across Japan, Korea, Australia, and Europe. His innovative approach has earned him honors including the Holbein Scholarship and the distinction of being named a Junior Associate of MoMA.

With works held in prominent collections like that of the Sezon Museum of Modern Art, Kadota remains committed to experimentation and artistic reinvention. By transforming personal memories and natural imagery into a vibrant visual dialogue, he challenges traditional conventions and invites us to reconsider our own narratives—reminding us that even amid struggle and transformation, a new beginning is always on the horizon.

Ultimately, Mitsumasa Kadota is an artist whose work is deeply rooted in both literal and metaphorical soil. He encourages viewers to look beyond the superficial, to discover in every mark, every hue, and every brushstroke an enduring cycle of creation, renewal, and rebirth.

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