Kyohei Kiyobe

Intricate and exuberant, Kyohei Kiyobe’s paintings celebrate life’s interconnections. They bring together meticulous marks, a vibrant palette and otherworldly figuration to create labyrinthine visual experiences. They also merge history with fantasy. Kiyobe paints on paper, using the tradition of Japanese calligraphy, an art he has practiced since childhood, as a foundation for his work. His compositions orbit around repetition and symmetry and he often explores time-honored subject matter like nature, love, and emotion. But he imbues tradition with fresh vitality, choosing psychedelic colors and referencing the youthful symbolism of urban art. 

Though well-trained in calligraphy, Kiyobe has studied contemporary art through travel rather than schooling. In addition to Japan, he has explored Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and South Korea, seeking new visual experiences wherever he goes. Kiyobe incorporates these experiences into his work. Ultimately, he aims to channel the complexity of the world he observes and reveal a lively, harmonious undercurrent that unites the world’s diversity.