■Biography
Kaori Someya (b.1977, Shimane, Japan) is a nihonga artist currently based in Tokyo, Japan. She holds MA in Cultural Properties and BA in Japanese painting from Tokyo University of the Arts, and went on to work at the university as an Adjunct Instructor, Research Assistant and Assistant Professor. She received numerous awards from the public entry exhibition “INTEN” and from museums in Japan. Her latest exhibitions include Sato Sakura Gallery in New York, USA, Selene Museum of Art in Toyama, Japan, Sato Sakura Museum, Tokyo, Japan. Her works are collected by Adachi Museum of Art, Sato Sakura Museum, Imai Art Museum and Niimi Museum of Art, Japan.

■Statement
Kaori Someya uses traditional Japanese painting materials to express women who are having tough time in Japan’s conservative contemporary society, but who are searching for ways of being and lives in the society.
Her work describes personal experiences of the gender gap in Japan, frustrations in it, a kind of resignation, sadness and anger narratively. Influenced by her mother, who used to make kimonos, and the experience studying mounting techniques such as hanging scrolls and folding screens, she explores a uniquely Japanese aesthetic Hare (special occasions) and Ke (ordinary days) through patterns and decorative expressions.
She researches books on classical painting techniques published in the 17-19th centuries in order to practice what traditions should be continued in the modernization of Japanese painting.

■Public Collections

Works held by:
Adachi Museum of Art / Sato Sakura Museum of Art / Niimi Museum of Art / Imai Museum of Art

■Selected Recent Solo Exhibitions

2025
“Deep Layers” – LE METTÉ GALLERY
2023
“isolation” – Ginza Nakajima Art
2022
“Kaiyū (Circulation)” – Sendai Mitsukoshi
2021
“Re” – Tobu Department Store, Ikebukuro
“a/synchronous” – Sato Sakura Gallery, New York
“Colors of Time” – Matsue Ichibata Department Store
2020
“Mixed” – Sendai Mitsukoshi / Daikanyama artobssession gallery

■Selected Recent Group Exhibitions

2023
“New Stars of Nihonga” – Selene Museum of Art
2022
“Tōgenkyō (Utopia)” – Hiroshima L Gallery
“Seep-In Nihonga” – Saga City Library Art Hall
2020
“Victory Bouquet Exhibition” – Sato Museum of Art
“Sengen-kai” – Iwakatsu Gallery (through 2023)

■Awards

2023
108th Reorganized Inten Exhibition
– Encouragement Prize / Tenshin Memorial Ibaraki Prize
Ronin | Globus | ONBEAT Artist-in-Residence
– Honorable Mention
2020
75th Spring Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2018
72nd Spring Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
103rd Reorganized Inten Exhibition
– Encouragement Prize / Adachi Museum of Art Prize
2017
102nd Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2016
71st Spring Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
101st Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2015
70th Spring Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
100th Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2014
2nd Sato Sakura Museum of Art Ōka Prize – Encouragement Prize
69th Spring Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
99th Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2013
68th Spring Inten Exhibition
– Foreign Minister’s Award / Encouragement Prize
98th Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2011
96th Reorganized Inten Exhibition – Encouragement Prize
2007
Uga no Kai – Minister of Justice Award
1999
Aogaki 2001 Nihonga Exhibition – Honorable Mention


■Grants / Fellowships

2018
Japan Art Institute Scholarship
2015
4th Maeda Seison Commemorative Nakamura Scholarship
– Nakamura Prize
2014–2016
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI),
Basic Research (C)
2010–2012
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI),
Challenging Exploratory Research
2009
Hōsen Cultural Foundation Grant