Photo: Courtesy of Shinpo.co
KEIKO ARAI 荒井恵子
1963
Born in Tokyo, Japan
Lives and works in Chiba, Japan
Works on Suiboku: Sumi-e expression using sumi ink and washi paper
EDUCATION
Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, Tokyo, Japan
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
KEIKO ARAI: INKSCAPE, SEIZAN Gallery, New York
Various Colors of Sumi: Exploring the Ink of Nara, Nara Prefectural Museum of Art Gallery, Nara, Japan
Keiko Arai Photo Exhibition: Eternal Sumi of Yamato, Shinbashi Maharoab-kan, Tokyo, Japan
2024
The Embrace of Washi Paper, The Essence of Sumi Ink, Art Lab14, Ciba City Museum of Art, Chiba, Japan
Keiko Arai: Traces of the Heart - Kokoro Ato, Nagoya Takashimaya Art Gallery, Aichi, Japan
2022
Between Black and White - Various Colors of Sumi, Funabashi Andersen Park/ Children’s Museum of Art, Chiba, Japan
Keiko Arai: Traces of the Heart - kokoro Ato, Isetan Shinjuku Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2021
Keiko Arai Funabashi Trilogy: Hojoji -Sanbanze -Tamagawa, Funabashi City Gallery, Chiba, Japan
Keiko Arai: INFINITY - One Hundred Shades of Ink, Mitsukoshi Art Gallery, Nagoya Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo and Aichi, Japan
Keiko Arai: INFINITY - One Hundred Shades of Ink, Isetan Shinjuku Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2019
One Hundred Shades of Grey, The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, Los Angeles. CA
Various Colors of Sumi Ink: Arai Keiko and Children, The Suiboku Museum Toyama
Toyama, Japan
2018
Fusuma-e paintings, Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu, at the Okamoto Shrine and Otaki Shrine 1300th Anniversary, Fukui, Japan
Grand Festival Commemorative Project: Keiko Arai’s World, In Between Sumi Ink and Washi, Udatsu Paper and Craft Museum, Fukui, Japan
Keiko Arai: Chu Ku Kai ki, Touching Changing Creating, LADS Gallery, Osaka, Japan
2017
Solo Exhibition, GALLERY RIN, Tokyo, Japan
2016
Keiko Arai Exhibition: Various colors, Ink Colors, LADS Gallery, Osaka, Japan
Keiko Arai: Now and Then, Kaigado WINDOW Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2015
Beyond the sky, Galerie Lee, Paris, France
2014
Keiko Arai Exhibition: Fusuma-e painting Past, Present, Future, LADS Gallery, Osaka, Japan
Heaven and Earth: Universe Fusuma-e, Expanding and Connecting, Udatsu Paper and Craft Museum, Fukui, Japan
Solo Exhibition, Galerie Lee, Paris, France
2013
Beyond the Universe of Keiko ARAI, Galerie Lee, Paris, France
Keiko Arai: New Works of the Fusuma-e painting Artist, Hojoji Temple, Chiba, Japan
2012
Keiko Arai: Hyo to Rin, LADS Gallery, Osaka, Japan
Keiko Arai, Galerie SATELLITE2, Paris, France
2010
Keiko Arai Exhibition, LADS Gallery, Osaka, Japan
2007
Keiko Arai, Ciba Gallery Art Salon, Chiba, Japan
2006
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Nish Chiba Gallery Tsubaki, Ciba, Japan
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Tokyo American Club, Tokyo, Japan
2005
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Nishi Shinjuku Promenade Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
balance + balance, Gallery Café-an, Japan
2004
Solo Exhibition, Centre D’Art Contemporains D’Oeleans, Orleans, France
Solo Exhibition, Montmartre des Arts, Paris, France
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Chiba Bank Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2003
Happy Red& Sumi Keiko Arai, Minami-Aoyama Formacquare, Tokyo, Japan
2002
Keiko Arai: Listen Closely, Tokyo Wonder site Hongo, Tokyo, Japan
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Gallery PLEINE VUE, Tokyo, Japan
2001
Keiko Arai Exhibition, Funabashi City Gallery Tatsuki, Ciba, Japan
2000
Solo exhibition, Sudo Art Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
1998
Keiko Arai – Kids World, The World of Children in Ink, Funabashi City Gallery, Ciba, Japan
SELECTED GROUP EXHIIBTIONS
2023
The 110th Anniversary of Toko Shinoda’s Birth: Creation and Challenge in Contemporary Art – Keiko Arai Exhibition, Isetan Shinjuku Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2022
The 21st Jomon Contemporary Art Exhibition in Funabashi: Gateway to the Jomon Era, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum Chiba, Japan
Exhibition of Toko Shinoda’s Works and Selected Contemporary Artists, Genpo-in, Kyoto, Japan
2021
The 20th Jomon Contemporary Art Exhibition in Funabashi – Let’s Dive into the Jomon Era, Dialogue with Jomon, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum Chiba, Japan
2019
SUMI encre japonaise, Centre culturel Les Fosses d’enfer, Saint- Rémy-sur Orne, France
2018
The 18th Jomon Contemporary Art Exhibition in Funababshi – Digging into the Art of Jomon Era, Searching for the Legendary Clay Figures, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum, Chiba, Japan
One Hundred Shades of Ink Keiko Arai: New and Then – Carious Colors, Ink Colors, Seki City Shinoda Toko Art Space, Gifu, Japan
2017
The 17th Jomon Contemporary Art Exhibition in Funabashi – Finding Art In the Jomon Era, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum, Chiba, Japan
2016
Contemporary Art Festival Nebula, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
2014
SEN 20th Exhibition, Kyoto City Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan
2012
Material and Expression 2012, Fukui City Museum of Art, Fukui, Japan (Exhibited annually until 2019)
SEN 18th Exhibition, Kyoto City Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan
2011
The Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongiu, Cheonghwa Network Exhibition Hanji + Washi Korea -Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
The 19th International TANNAN ART Festival 2011, Fukui, Japan (Exhibited annually until 2024)
2011 CAF Nebula Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
2010
The 4th Phase of Ink Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2009
Phase of Ink: Special Exhibition of Modern Ink Painting, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Hypothesis Transition, Contemporary Art of Armenia (NAPK), Yerevan, Armenia
2009 CAF Nebula Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
2007
2007 CAF Nebul Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Jomon International Contemporary in Funabashi 2007: De ai no Zokei, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum, Chiba, Japan
2006
Jomon International Contemporary Art in Funabashi 2006: The Esprit of Jomon, Tobinodai Archaeological Museum, Chiba, Japan
2005
Lineart art fair, Ghent, Belgium
Hohino Shingo Prize, The Triennial Competition in Toyohashi, Toyohashi City Museum of Art & Histotry, Aichi, Japan
2001
International Impact Art Festival, Kyoto City Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan
2000
Maeabshi Art Competition Live 2000, Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan
1999
Messages from Young Painters, Sudo Art Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
Europe & America International Open Call: Spain Art Award Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1998
Philip Morris Art Award Final Review Exhibition, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan
COMISSIONS
2018
Fusuma-e paintings, Ki-sho-Ten-Ketsu, at the Okamoto Shrine and Otaki Shrine 1300th Anniversary
Grand Festival Commemorative Project: Keiko Arai’s World, In Between Sumi Ink and Japanese Paper, Udatsu Paper and Craft Museum, Fukui, Japan
2013
Fusuma-e paintings Ku, Chu, Hojoji temple, Chiba, Japan
AWARDS
2007
Encouragement Award, Ink Painting Triennale Toyama 2007, The Suiboku Museum Toyama, Toyama, Japan
2003
Member’s Award, The 41st Funabashi City - City Exhibition
1998
Chairman’s Award, Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition
1997
Outstanding prize, Modern Ink Painting Association exhibition
Mayer’s Award, The 35th Funabashi city exhibition to celebrate 60th Anniversary of City Establishment
PUBLICATIONS
2002
Keiko, Arai. “Sumi to Washi de Kanaderu Seimei no Hibiki”, Art Box International
EXHIBITIONS
KEIKO ARAI: INKSCAPE