Born in Tokyo in 1984, KATO Ai graduated from Aida Makoto’s “Barabara Art Class” at Bigakko Art School in 2014, and has been performing live paintings as “AI☆MADONNA” since 2007. Her activity as an artist has spanned over a wide range of field, not only exhibiting her artworks, but also collaborating with musicians, designing costumes for Japanese idols, and publishing her very first manga called “HAKUA” (Stoke, Inc.) just last year.
What has been the basis for KATO’s work is her childhood memories. As a young girl, she was ambiguously attracted to bodies of other young girls by admiration or by sensuality - memories of which remain vivid for her. KATO started to paint “beautiful girls,” almost a goddess-like existence to her at times, initially to cheer herself up during her teenage years that were full of complex and stress. Even after she started to become active as an artist, she continued to engross herself, portraying “beautiful girl” as the ultimate expression of her emotions.
2020
Acrylic gouache on acrylic board
50 x 70 x 4 cm
2020
Acrylic gouache on acrylic board
50 x 70 x 4 cm
2020
Acrylic gouache on acrylic board
50 x 70 x 4 cm
2020
Acrylic gouache on acrylic board
50 x 70 x 4 cm
©KATO Ai (AI☆MADONNA)
Courtesy: Mizuma Art Gallery
KATO Ai (AI☆MADONNA)
1984 Born in Tokyo, Japan
2003 Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Senior High School of Fine Arts, Performing Arts and Classical Music, Department of Art, Design Course
2004 Graduated from Aida Makoto’s “Barabara Art Class,” Bigakko
2007 Became active as AI☆MADONNA
2012 Established a company “AI☆MADONNA Production”
Solo Exhibitions
- 2009
- Fruit, antique studio MINORU, Tokyo
KYUPIN, Mizuma Action, Tokyo - 2010
- Sekirara Bishoujo Cumulonimbus, galaxxxy, Tokyo
- 2011
- AI☆MADONNA Trick Art 9F, BT gallery, Tokyo
- 2012
- HATSU-MOE -LOVE & Dragon-, DIGINNER GALLERY WORKSHOP, Tokyo
- 2014
- Yellow of happiness..., VV Shibuya Udagawa, Tokyo
It is not my fault that my complexion is bad, Pixiv Zingaro, Tokyo - 2017
- A sunny and genius, WALL Harajuku, Tokyo
Ambiguous U Meeha love, AWAJI Cafe and Gallery, Tokyo - 2019
- HAKUA, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo
TRASH or TREASURE, VV Shibuya, Tokyo - 2020
- A room missing sunlight, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo
Group Exhibitions
- 2004
- KOTATSU-HA 2, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo
- 2005
- Pre-Climacteric Love, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo
Since 1994: Mizuma Art Gallery the 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo - 2007
- JAPAN WEEK 2007 in Warszawa, Poland
Art de Sauro: Aida Makoto / Yamaguchi Akira, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo - 2008
- Tokyo Nonsense, SCION space, Los Angeles
- 2013
- HELLO, SHIBUYA TOKYO, Singapore
- 2014
- Impacts! Hazumi: Japanese Contemporary Art, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, US
- 2015
- SHIBUKARU MATSURI goes to BANGKOK, Bangkok
JAPAN EXPO, Paris - 2019
- A Gentle Gaze, HWA’S Gallery, Shanghai
Eyes & Curiosity - Flowers in the Field, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
Support
- Mizuma Art Gallery
Special Thanks
- Kanase Inc.
Kitagawa Michiru
Yamagata Yukiko
The theme that continues to run through all of my works is that of capturing cute and beautiful moments in the girls I depict, embedding these into each painting. The works I am presenting this time around were in fact made using a new painting style. I hope that you will come to the exhibitioin and see for yourself how these works look different, depending on the angle and distance from which you see them.
KATO Ai (AI☆Madonna)