Born in Tokyo in 1969, Tomoo Gokita is an artist based in his hometown. After working as a graphic designer and illustrator, he published his drawing collection Lingerie Wrestling in 2000. After showing work in New York in the mid-2000s, he began exhibiting widely in Japan and internationally. Referencing vintage magazines and photographs, he became known for his black-and-white acrylic gouache paintings. While rooted in subcultural sensibilities, he has established a distinct presence in the contemporary art field and gained wide international recognition.
In 2020, his solo exhibition Game Over at Massimo De Carlo in Milan presented a body of work that introduced a shift away from monochrome and toward color. Since then, he has embraced a more improvisational approach, drawing on inner resources grounded in memory and bodily sensation. The result is a series of works characterized by color palettes that are subtle yet sharp, bringing new depth and openness to the canvas.
Most recently, he held a solo exhibition titled Gumbo at ICA Milano in October 2024, and is scheduled to present a new body of work titled NAKED at BLUM Los Angeles from May 30, 2025.
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