“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Catalogue Essay
Born in Toba, Japan, and raised in the United States, Yoskay Yamamoto is known for his fusion of Japanese culture with American urban Pop Art, drawing inspiration from artists such as Paul Klee, Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, and Yayoi Kusama, among others. As a self-trained illustrator, Yamamoto found himself smitten with the culture of the American West Coast, thus sought to unite his diverging heritage by blending iconic pop characters with traditional, mythical Japanese elements. Often featuring characters submerged underwater, Yamamoto’s works are suggestive of the broad expanse of space between the two locations, communicating both joy and melancholy as he navigates the challenges of being in between cultures.
With works across mediums such as sculpture, murals, carved figurines and toys, as well as large installations and paintings, Yamamoto unites graphic illustrative design with a highly expressive and surrealist sensibility, encouraging interaction with viewers.
Yamamoto has showcased his work in galleries and museums both domestically and internationally, with works held in the Fort Wayne Museum of Art collection. He was chosen as the official artist for Los Angeles Film Festival 2017 and in 2018 he completed a site installation and Facebook headquarters. He currently lives and works in Long Beach, California.
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Exhibited
Hong Kong, ARTboratory, One must look with the heart, 29 June - 12 July 2021