Based in Kobe, artist Kazuo Ishii has spent his life depicting the quiet light of hope that resides within stillness.
The figures and landscapes born from his brush evoke a gentle nostalgia—an emotional warmth that seems to awaken something deep within our memory.
“The Goddess in Orange Light”
This year’s solo exhibition features 63 works in total.
Among them, the piece chosen for the poster, The Goddess in Orange Light, portrays a serene woman bathed in soft, glowing hues of orange. In her calm expression and distant gaze, one senses quiet strength and unwavering resolve.
“The Goddess in Orange Light”
The gallery walls are lined with Ishii’s long-cherished “Goddess” series, alongside new abstract landscapes that reveal his evolving sensibility.
Exhibition view inside the gallery.
At first glance, the abstract compositions may seem like free layers of color and line—but look closer, and a small solitary figure emerges within.
Even in abstraction, Ishii’s paintings always carry the tender presence of humanity.
A Quiet Prayer within Everyday Life
A collection of works you could gaze at forever.
Ishii’s paintings are neither flamboyant nor explanatory.
Yet as you stand before them, your mind grows still, and a sense of quiet prayer begins to flow.
They are the kind of works you could gaze at endlessly—paintings that invite calm, not spectacle.
In recent years, Ishii has explored a more intuitive and abstract style, where brushstrokes and layers of color seem to speak their own language.
Still, what remains constant is his pure, contemplative gaze toward “the act of living.”
At 82, Still Painting with Gentle Strength
Artist Kazuo Ishii at Gallery Shimada.
Now 82 years old, Ishii continues to work tirelessly in his studio.
For him, to paint is to live—and the words fit naturally.
Together with the staff of Gallery Shimada, he personally selected each piece for this exhibition at his atelier.
Visitors are welcome to sit, take their time, and quietly share a moment of conversation with the artist.
Here, time flows softly—just like his paintings.
Exhibition Information
Kazuo Ishii Exhibition
Venue: Gallery Shimada – deux & trois
Address: 1F Reranz Gate, 2-4-24 Yamamoto-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Dates: November 15 (Sat) – November 25 (Mon), 2025
Hours: 12:00 – 18:00 (closes at 16:00 on the final day)
Closed: Wednesday, November 19
Free Admission
