YUGEN Gallery is a gallery that was founded in February 2022 and specializes in contemporary art. The gallery's name, "YUGEN," comes from the word "yugen," which represents the uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense, and the gallery aims to convey the values ​​embodied in the word, such as "profundity," "sublimity," "elegance," "grace," "luster," and "grandeur," to many people both in Japan and overseas through contemporary art.

The gallery is based in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, and plans to open a second space in Tenjin, Fukuoka in September 2024. Straddling the different cultural spheres of the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kyushu, the gallery exhibits and communicates in a way that reflects the unique characteristics of each region. Exhibitions are held primarily once or twice a month in Minami-Aoyama, and two to three times a month in Fukuoka, providing a platform for chance encounters with art and ongoing dialogue.

The artists featured are primarily young and mid-career Japanese artists, showcasing a diverse range of talents pursuing unique forms of expression. The museum also focuses on projects incorporating international perspectives, such as art collective exhibitions featuring popular Korean artists. The ARTSHODO exhibition, which expands the traditional concept of "calligraphy," has also attracted attention from an art historical perspective, drawing academic interest from many art professionals and researchers.

Another important pillar of YUGEN Gallery is addressing themes of social interest. For example, we are working to shed light on social memories and issues through art, such as a group exhibition on the theme of "peace" in collaboration with Tamentai Gallery in Hiroshima, and a photo exhibition by Mikio Hasui that documents and visualizes pottery by Living National Treasure artists that was damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Starting in 2024, the group will begin participating in art fairs in earnest, exhibiting for the first time at Art Fair Asia Fukuoka 2024 and Art Fair Tokyo 2025. The group is also actively involved in local collaborations, and in Minami-Aoyama it has joined the Minato Ward Tourism Association , and in Fukuoka it is involved in local projects such as Fukuoka Art Next , One Flower per Person , and the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau , contributing to the development of urban culture and economic revitalization through art.

Although it has only been a few years since its establishment, YUGEN Gallery has steadily established a presence in the art scene both in Japan and overseas through its uniqueness and practical capabilities. Going forward, we will continue to broaden and deepen the possibilities of contemporary art as a place that connects artworks with society, the local community with the world, and viewers with artists.