Osaka's 10 Contemporary Art Galleries You Should Know

Tezukayama Gallery, Nishi-ku, Minami Horie 1-19-27 2F, Osaka, Japan, +81 6 6534 3993

Founded in 1977, Shihoudou Gallery showcases Japanese paintings and sculptures, focusing mainly on established Japanese artists and rare works of art. In addition to hosting regular exhibits, the gallery also appraises and sells artwork to private collectors and museums throughout Japan. Shihoudou Gallery primarily showcases paintings, including works by realistic painter Sousuke Morimoto, and Japan’s famous Gutai Group. Works range from the 19th century to the present, reflecting the evolving influences of the West on Japanese art over the last century. In addition to the gallery in Osaka, Shihoudou Gallery recently opened a second branch in Tokyo in 2009.

Shihoudou Gallery, 3-6-1 Hirano-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan,+81 6 6232 1363

With a focus on contemporary photography, the Third Gallery Aya showcases the work of established and up-and-coming Japanese and foreign artists.The gallery is known for its frequent exhibitions featuring Japanese female artists, who are typically overlooked in both the national and international art scene. Some notable women artists that have been exhibited at the gallery include photographer Miyako Ishiuchi, whose series hiroshima six, depicting objects belonging to victims of the Hiroshima bombings, was awarded the 50th Mainichi Art Award, and Midori Komatsubara, known for her detailed movie still images based on the popular yaoi Japanese comic sub-genre.

The Third Gallery Aya, Wakasa Bldg, 2F,1-8-24 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka, Japan, +81 6 6445 3557

Gallery Kaze focuses on the work of abstract painters, featuring award-winning artists like Yuko Nagayama, Ukai Yoko, and Kaneda Mio. Located in Chuo-ku, one of Osaka’s major shopping and tourist areas, Gallery Kaze showcases artists both in their gallery, as well as in art fairs across the country. The gallery is a regular participant in the city’s annual Art Osaka, during which galleries from across Japan and abroad showcase pieces in different hotel rooms. Visitors move from room to room within the hotel, taking in some of Japan’s best artwork all in one place.

Gallery Kaze 9F 2-1-23 Kitahama, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan, +81 6 6228 0138

ARTCOURT Gallery (est. 2003) is one of the few galleries in western Japan that actively participates in international art fairs, such as Art Basel Hong Kong, in order to promote the front line of Japanese art. They represent artists in conceptual art (Hitoshi Nomura) and fine art, conceived from Japan’s unique craft approach (Yo Akiyama, Shihoko Fukumoto). ACG has facilitated many purchases by museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York. ACG also handles large-scale commission-based projects. They successfully coordinated the installation of Kozo Nishino’s Sky Memory at 4 World Trade Center in New York in 2013. They are actively involved in research on Gutai works, publishing new portfolios and promoting exhibitions at museums outside of Japan, all while closely working with the artists themselves.

Artcourt Gallery, Tenmabashi 1-8-5, Kita-ku, Osaka,Japan,+81 6 6354 5444

The YOD Gallery hosts exhibits and talks with the goal of showcasing the contemporary works of both local and international artists. Established in 2008, the gallery focuses on exhibiting works that represent Japan’s unique artistic culture, hoping to bring more international recognition to Japanese artists. The gallery regularly participates in international art fairs, including the Affordable Art Fair in Singapore, and Art Expo Malaysia. YOD Gallery is a small single-room gallery, which features a large wall outside the building where exhibiting artists can advertise their work and occasionally perform live paintings for passers-by to watch.

YOD Gallery, 4-9-15, Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan, +81 6 6364 0775

Art U was founded in 1983 by Ai Sawai, inspired by his father, a painter who studied with well-known Japanese artist Sotaro Yasui. The gallery focuses on contemporary Japanese art, specializing in works by the Gutai Group, including Sadamasa Motonaga, Jiro Yoshihara, Kumi Sugai, and Kazuo Shiraga. ‘gutai’ means ‘concreteness’ or ‘embodiment’, and this eclectic group of artists was known for using everything from plastic tubing to mud, to redefine artistic boundaries. The gallery showcases the work of established Japanese and international artists who have impacted the art world throughout the 20th century and into the present.

Art U, 1F, Kitazawa Building, 3-2-24, Kitahama, Chuo ward, Osaka, Japan, +81 66 6201 0221

Soho Art Gallery is a ‘flexible exhibition, cultural, and learning space’, founded by two Japanese and Canadian artists to promote the work of emerging contemporary talents from all over the world. The gallery hosts group shows, solo shows, and workshops, in addition to providing portfolio assistance, critiques, and exhibition planning services to guide new artists and aid in their professional development. Soho Art Gallery is both a commercial and experimental gallery, presenting work in a variety of media, from photography and paintings, to installations and performance pieces. Featured artists have included photography and poems by Kit Nagamura, digital portraits of historical figures by Sachie Anzai, and painting installations by Yoshitaka Tatsumi.

Soho Art Gallery, Ikutamacho 9-18, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, Japan, +81 6 4394 7456