© 2024 Izumi Kato×CHISO
展覧会 Exhibition at Chiso Gallery
Admission: Free Closed on Wednesdays

The gallery will close at 15:00 on March 1 (Sat.). It will be closed on March 8(Sat.) and March 9 (Sun.).
Additional schedule changes, including summer closures, may occur.

Organized by Chiso Co., Ltd. Produced by Shun Takaiwa Production supported by Izumi Kato Studio
Cooperation with PERROTIN


世界で活躍する現代美術家・加藤泉と京友禅の千總コラボレーションアートワーク
世界で活躍する現代美術家・加藤泉と京友禅の千總コラボレーションアートワーク
© 2024 Izumi Kato×CHISO
加藤泉 IZUMI KATO 加藤泉 IZUMI KATO Photo: Claire Dorn Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin

Born in Shimane Prefecture, Japan in 1969, Izumi Kato is a globally active contemporary artist based in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He is known for his distinctive “human-shaped” (hitogata) motifs, which evoke a primal and symbolic simplicity reminiscent of children’s drawings. In recent years, Kato has expanded his practice beyond painting to include sculptures made from wood, soft vinyl, fabric, stone, and cast materials. His notable solo exhibitions include: Red Brick Art Museum (Beijing, China, 2018), Hara Museum ARC (Tokyo/Gunma, held at two museums at the same time, 2019), SCAD Museum of Art (Savannah, USA, 2021), Watari-Um (Tokyo, 2022). In 2025, Kato will have a solo exhibition at the Shimane Iwami Art Museum and will participate in the international art festival “Aichi Triennale 2025.”

加藤泉 IZUMI KATO Photo: Claire Dorn Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin

Founded in 1555 in Kyoto’s Karasuma-Sanjo district, Chiso celebrates its 470th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, Chiso Gallery will host “IZUMI KATO × CHISO: PAINTING IN KIMONO”, an exhibition showcasing works co-created with contemporary artist Izumi Kato. The works were crafted based on Kato’s sketches, employing 20 to 30 processes such as hand-painted Yuzen, shibori tie-dyeing and embroidery. Production took place both at Chiso’s in-house workshop and at specialized studios throughout Kyoto Prefecture and involved the collaboration of over 20 highly skilled artisans. Notably, his distinctive motif known as “Hito-gata” (human figure) was painted by the artist himself. This marks a rare occurrence in Chiso’s long history, as non-Yuzen artisans seldom contribute directly to the dyeing process on kimono fabric. Chiso began in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) as a purveyor of religious ceremonial garments. Guided by the philosophy that “tradition is not about preservation but about creation,” the company has always explored the leading beauty of its time. There is also a fact that, from the Meiji period (1868-1912) onwards, encounters with art expanded the possibilities of Kyo-Yuzen. The exhibition aims to envision a new future for the kimono and provide an opportunity for the creation of a diverse culture.

加藤泉 IZUMI KATO
加藤泉 IZUMI KATO
加藤泉 IZUMI KATO
加藤泉 IZUMI KATO

Photo: Mitsuru Wakabayashi Courtesy of CHISO

2025 Izumi Kato x CHISO Photo: Kai Okano © 2025 Izumi Kato x CHISO

This exhibition showcases not only the collaborative kimono works created by Kato and Chiso's artisans, but also original artworks by Kato, crafted from fabric remnants and components generated during the kimono-making process. Kimonos are traditionally made from a single bolt of fabric (tanmono), with minimal waste. In a similar spirit, Kato repurposes these byproducts into his new works of art, embracing a uniquely “kimono-like” creative approach. By redefining the kimono not just as clothing but as a conceptual medium, unveiling new dimensions of beauty. The dynamic crossover between art and kimono craftsmanship opens fresh perspectives, inspiring a dialogue that transcends both worlds.

展示会オリジナルグッズ LIMITED EDITION GOODS

Exclusive items featuring designs inspired by Izumi Kato's drawings will be available for purchase.
Both items are available in limited quantities.
Available at the CHISO Flagship store and CHISO Online shop.

おじゃみ OJAMI
おじゃみ OJAMI

4 designs, sold as a set of 3
*Limit 2 per customer

うちわ UCHIWA
うちわ UCHIWA
うちわ UCHIWA

2 designs, with a stand
*Limit 2 per customer

千總ギャラリー CHISO GALLERY
千總ギャラリー CHISO GALLERY

Encounter with beauty at CHISO GALLERY, a space where craftsmanship and art, tradition and creativity intersect, and where the past, present, and future come together. "Gallery 1" exhibits our collection, while "Gallery 2" showcases the works of contemporary artists, together sharing a common concept for exhibitions.

Access

CHISO Flagship store 2F

80 Mikura-cho, Sanjo Karasuma Nishiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 604-8166, Japan

3 minutes walk from subway "Karasuma Oike" station

7 minutes walk from Hankyu "Karasuma" station

千總とは ABOUT CHISO
千總とは ABOUT CHISO

Founded as “Chikiriya” in 1555 by founder Yozaemon Chikiriya as a purveyor of religious ceremonial garments, Chiso has stood in Kyoto’s Karasuma-Sanjo district for centuries.
In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Chiso shifted the main focus of its business to Yuzen dyeing and pioneered a new expression of Kyo Yuzen by commissioning Japanese painters to do the preliminary sketches. As a pioneer in the introduction of new designs and techniques, such as silk velvet Yuzen and Utsushi Yuzen, it became a brand appointed by the Ministry of the Imperial Household. Chiso was also actively exhibited overseas, including at the Paris World Expo. Postwar, Chiso continued evolving, leveraging its expertise in design and dyeing for collaborations with global brands such as Montblanc, Globe-Trotter, and Suntory. In 1989, Chiso opened the Chiso Gallery to share its traditional artworks, followed by the Institute for Chiso Arts and Culture, which researches and preserves Japan’s cultural assets. Chiso Flagship Store was opened in 2020 at its original Karasuma-Sanjo location which expanded its gallery space to focus on contemporary art in 2022.

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