Keita Morimoto | 森本啓太 (B. 1990 Osaka, Japan)
Lived and worked in Toronto, Canada from 2006-20. Now based in Tokyo since 2021.
My paintings combine an eclectic mix of historic, contemporary and personal influences. Inspired by the dramatic use of light and dark in the Baroque paintings as well as the fantastic nature of Magic Realism, my work combines classical compositions with subtle references to urban subcultures. My narrative paintings relate to personal experiences while I strive to depict ordinary scenes through a magical lens.
バロックやマジックリアリズムという芸術の様式に深く影響され、今見ているありふれた現実をどういった形で幻想的に表現できるかということをテーマとしながら、モチーフには人物や風景などを使って、現実という物を多様な視点から描写する事に重点を置いています。
Education
2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts OCAD University
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Garden of Lights, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto
2018 Light Passage, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto
2016 Strange Guild, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto
2014 Oasis, Galerie Youn, Montreal
2014 The Nightwatchers, Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto
Selected Exhibitions and Auctions
2018 These things I have seen, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough
2016 RBC Canadian Painting Exhibition, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto
2016 About Face, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto
2015 Art Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto
2015 Art with Heart Auction for Casey House, Carlu, Toronto
2015 Art Miami NYC, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, New York
2015 Invisible College, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne
2014 Art with Heart Auction for Casey House, Carlu, Toronto
2014 Superhuman, Plus Gallery, Denver
2014 LAX / TXL, Urban Nation, Berlin
2013 Art Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto
2013 Toronto: Out-of-Doors, Al Green Gallery, Toronto
2013 Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto
Collections
Bell Trinity Square Permanent Public Installation, Toronto
Urban Nation Museum, Berlin
The Bora Family Collection, Istanbul
Stikeman Elliot LLP, Toronto
Ninepoint Partners LP, Toronto
Loyalty One, Toronto
Infor Financial Group, Toronto
Lectures
Artist Talk, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, 2020
Artist Presentation, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 2018
Artist Presentation, The Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 2018
Panel Talk, Art Gallery of Peterborough, 2018
Residency
2019 Vermont Studio Centre - Full Fellowship Recipient, Johnson
Awards and Publications
2019 Toronto Arts Council Visual Artists Grant, Toronto
2017 The Kingston Prize - Finalist, Kingston
2016 RBC Canadian Painting Competition - Finalist, Toronto
2012 Creative Quarterly 28 Winner, Fine Art Student section, New York
2012 Donna MacLean Award, Toronto
2012 Patricia Joy Alpert Memorial Award, Toronto
2011 The Other Competition Winner, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
Press
My Modern Met with Margherita Cole (2020)
Globe and Mail with Kate Taylor (2020)
Widewalls with Balasz Takac (2020)
Now Toronto (2020)
Toronto Life (2020)
Creative Boom with Katy Cowan (2019)
CBC Arts with Leah Collins (2019)
Kevin Ritchie, "Five gorgeous paintings that bring out Toronto's romantic side" NOW Magazine, February 7, 2018.
"A royal play for fans of The Crown, a chat with a Michelin-starred chef and six other things to see, do, hear and read this week.", Toronto Life, February 5, 2018.
Katy Cowan, "Keita Morimoto's modern paintings of Toronto inspired by Edward Hopper and Japan," Creative Boom, January 29, 2018.
"Keita Morimoto: Light Passage at Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto", Blouin Artinfo, January 31, 2018.
Wendy Jacob, "Face Time: Painter Keita Morimoto's portraits are clever, next-gen riffs on Old Master works", House & Home, October 2017
"15 Artists are Finalist in RBC Canadian Painting Competition", Canadian Art, July 5, 2016.
The Toronto Star with Murray Whyte
The Tiny Berliner
Art Toronto
Artsy
Toronto Life
LA PRESSE
Modern Toronto
Combustus Magazine
Booooooom
Hi-Fructose Online
Supersonic Electronic
Juxtapoz
Weld Art Collective