ENG｜JPN
PROFILE
Chizuru Masumura
Born 1972, Japan
1993 Graduated from Hijiyama Women's Junior College
Lives and works in Japan
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2026
- Chizuru Masumura Exhibition｜Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery X｜Tokyo
- 2024
- Chizuru Masumura Exhibition｜YUMEKOUBOU GALLERY｜Kyoto
- 2024
- INSCAPE｜GALLERY SAOH and TOMOS｜Tokyo
- 2022
- Art Book Publication Exhibition｜Umeda Tsutaya Books｜Osaka
- 2021
- Art Book Publication Exhibition｜Morioka shoten｜Tokyo
- 2021
- Art Book Publication Exhibition｜Gallery Suchi｜Tokyo
- 2016
- Chiasma｜Gallery Suchi｜Tokyo
- 2014
- Sign｜Gallery Suchi｜Tokyo
- 2011
- Someday｜neutron tokyo｜Tokyo
- 2010
- Tenderness｜neutron kyoto｜Kyoto
- 2009
- Faint light｜neutron tokyo｜Tokyo
- 2009
- Vestige｜Art Center Painting Competition Winner’s exhibition｜Kobe
- 2008
- Esperanza｜neutron kyoto｜Kyoto
- 2006
- Remembrance｜galeria CERO｜Osaka
- 2005
- adagio｜Belgium Flanders Center｜Osaka
- 2005
- a gust of wind went through.｜Pantaloon｜Osaka
- 2004
- Chizuru Masumura Exhibition｜Art Garden｜Okayama
- 2004
- a long time ago…｜Guild Gallery｜Osaka
Selected Group Exhibition
- 2025
- Rethink｜Artglorieux Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2025
- The current state of paintings｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2024
- Drawing Exhibition｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2024
- CONSCIOUS and UNCONSCIOUS DOORS｜Takashimaya Art Gallery｜Tokyo,Osaka,Kyoto,Nagoya
- 2024
- Rethink｜Artglorieux Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2024
- Takumi｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2023
- The current state of art｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2021
- Electronic Wire Art Exhibition｜Nerima Art Museum｜Tokyo
- 2020
- FREE COLORS｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2020
- 10th Anniversary Exhibition -Rising-｜Gallery Suchi｜Tokyo
- 2018
- Kanji Maeda Grand Prize｜Nihombashi Takashimaya Art Gallery, Kurayoshi Museum｜Tokyo,Tottori
- 2016
- THE TECHNIQUE Ⅲ｜Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery｜Tokyo
- 2015
- Creative Gallery｜Knowledge Salon in Grand Front Osaka｜Osaka
- 2014
- ASIAN REALISM Ⅱ｜Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, AKI Gallery｜Tokyo,Taipei
- 2014
- Kanji Maeda Grand Prize｜Nihombashi Takashimaya, Kurayoshi Museum｜Tokyo,Tottori
- 2014
- Mr.M Collection Exhibition｜Gallery Suchi｜Tokyo
- 2013
- 3331 ART COLLECTOR FAIR ｜ 3331 Arts Chiyoda｜Tokyo
- 2012
- When Poetry Meets Art｜Gallery Emu｜Tokyo
- 2012
- One Piece Exhibition｜Tezukayama Gallery, Megumi Ogita Gallery｜Osaka, Tokyo
- 2011
- The World of the Future｜neutron tokyo｜Tokyo
- 2010
- Korea-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition｜Bumi Art Hall｜Busan
- 2010
- GALA CONTEMPORARY ART｜Artpro GALA｜Fukuoka
- 2009
- Wishing Stars｜neutron tokyo｜Tokyo
- 2009
- Outstanding Rising Artists Exhibition｜Sompo Japan Museum｜Tokyo
- 2008
- Art Center Painting Competition｜Japan Art Center｜Tokyo, Kobe, Fukuoka
- 2007
- Gallerism｜Osaka Contemporary Art Center｜Osaka
Art Fair
- 2019
- Art Fair Tokyo ｜ Tokyo International Forum, Solo booth｜Tokyo
- 2018
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum｜Tokyo
- 2017
- Art Osaka｜Hotel Granvia Osaka｜Osaka
- 2017
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum｜Tokyo
- 2016
- Art Fair Asia Fukuoka｜Hotel Okura Fukuoka｜Fukuoka
- 2016
- Art Osaka｜Hotel Granvia Osaka｜Osaka
- 2016
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum｜Tokyo
- 2015
- Art Osaka｜Hotel Granvia Osaka｜Osaka
- 2015
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum｜Tokyo
- 2014
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum｜Tokyo
- 2013
- Art Taipei｜Taipei World Trade Center｜Taipei
- 2013
- Art Osaka｜Hotel Granvia Osaka｜Osaka
- 2013
- Asia Hotel Art Fair Hong Kong｜Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong ｜Hong Kong
- 2012
- Art Fair Tokyo｜Tokyo International Forum, Solo booth｜Tokyo
- 2011
- Young Art Taipei｜Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei｜Taipei
- 2009
- EMERGING DIRECTORS' ART FAIR "ULTRA002"｜Spiral｜Tokyo
Award
- 2011
- Young Art Award｜Finalist Top5｜Taipei
- 2008
- Art Center Painting Competition｜Jury Prize
- 2006
- Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition｜Encouragement Prize
- 2005
- Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition｜Fine Work Prize
- 1999
- Concours Drawing Dessin Gravure of Japanese Artists｜a Prize｜Paris
Art Book
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Special Edition Box｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
Publication
- 2016
- The world of beauty and fantasy depicted｜Sogo Tosho
- 2013
- The Amazing World of Realistic Paintings｜Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha
- 2013
- GRAPHIC - Contemporary Oil Paintings｜Maria Shobo
Book Cover Artwork
- 2025
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜Sharp Point Publishing｜Taiwan
- 2024
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜SHINCHOSHA
- 2021
- “Aku no Me” Tokuro Nukui｜KADOKAWA
- 2020
- “Hypnos” Rihito Inuzuka｜KADOKAWA
- 2014
- “Kanon” Seiichiro Nakahara｜KAWADE SHOBO SHINSHA
- 2014
- “Miyuki” Osamu Suzuki｜KADOKAWA
Sound Album Cover Artwork
- 2026
- “On Solitude" Hiroshi Ebina ｜KITCHEN. LABEL｜LP + CD
- 2013
- “Depth of Decay” Ryo Murakami ｜Vinyl 2LP + CD
TV CM｜Provide Artwork
- 2012
- “ICHIKAMI” 2012 AW series｜Kracie Home Products
Lecture
- 2023
- Guest lecture・Workshop｜Hijiyama University
- 2022
- Guest lecture｜Hijiyama University
Talk Event
- 2021
- Chizuru Masumura(Artist) × Itsushi Kawase（Visual Anthropologist, Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies）「On the embryo of images」｜bookstore BandB
- 2021
- Yoshiyuki Morioka(Morioka Shoten) × Kyoko Shimizu(Kyuryudo) × Chizuru Masumura(Artist)｜Morioka shoten
Radio appearance
- 2024
- RadiCro (Internet radio) Guest appearance｜Yoshitaka Mori's Art Republic
- 2011
- Young Art Award｜Finalist Top5｜Taipei
- 2008
- Art Center Painting Competition｜Jury Prize
- 2006
- Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition｜Encouragement Prize
- 2005
- Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition｜Fine Work Prize
- 1999
- Concours Drawing Dessin Gravure of Japanese Artists｜a Prize｜Paris
Art Book
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Special Edition Box｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
Publication
- 2016
- The world of beauty and fantasy depicted｜Sogo Tosho
- 2013
- The Amazing World of Realistic Paintings｜Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha
- 2013
- GRAPHIC - Contemporary Oil Paintings｜Maria Shobo
Book Cover Artwork
- 2025
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜Sharp Point Publishing｜Taiwan
- 2024
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜SHINCHOSHA
- 2021
- “Aku no Me” Tokuro Nukui｜KADOKAWA
- 2020
- “Hypnos” Rihito Inuzuka｜KADOKAWA
- 2014
- “Kanon” Seiichiro Nakahara｜KAWADE SHOBO SHINSHA
- 2014
- “Miyuki” Osamu Suzuki｜KADOKAWA
Sound Album Cover Artwork
- 2026
- “On Solitude" Hiroshi Ebina ｜KITCHEN. LABEL｜LP + CD
- 2013
- “Depth of Decay” Ryo Murakami ｜Vinyl 2LP + CD
TV CM｜Provide Artwork
- 2012
- “ICHIKAMI” 2012 AW series｜Kracie Home Products
Lecture
- 2023
- Guest lecture・Workshop｜Hijiyama University
- 2022
- Guest lecture｜Hijiyama University
Talk Event
- 2021
- Chizuru Masumura(Artist) × Itsushi Kawase（Visual Anthropologist, Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies）「On the embryo of images」｜bookstore BandB
- 2021
- Yoshiyuki Morioka(Morioka Shoten) × Kyoko Shimizu(Kyuryudo) × Chizuru Masumura(Artist)｜Morioka shoten
Radio appearance
- 2024
- RadiCro (Internet radio) Guest appearance｜Yoshitaka Mori's Art Republic
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
- 2021
- FRUCTUS Chizuru Masumura｜Special Edition Box｜Kyuryudo Art Publishing
Publication
- 2016
- The world of beauty and fantasy depicted｜Sogo Tosho
- 2013
- The Amazing World of Realistic Paintings｜Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha
- 2013
- GRAPHIC - Contemporary Oil Paintings｜Maria Shobo
Book Cover Artwork
- 2025
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜Sharp Point Publishing｜Taiwan
- 2024
- “Monster” Akira Higashiyama｜SHINCHOSHA
- 2021
- “Aku no Me” Tokuro Nukui｜KADOKAWA
- 2020
- “Hypnos” Rihito Inuzuka｜KADOKAWA
- 2014
- “Kanon” Seiichiro Nakahara｜KAWADE SHOBO SHINSHA
- 2014
- “Miyuki” Osamu Suzuki｜KADOKAWA
Sound Album Cover Artwork
- 2026
- “On Solitude" Hiroshi Ebina ｜KITCHEN. LABEL｜LP + CD
- 2013
- “Depth of Decay” Ryo Murakami ｜Vinyl 2LP + CD
TV CM｜Provide Artwork
- 2012
- “ICHIKAMI” 2012 AW series｜Kracie Home Products
Lecture
- 2023
- Guest lecture・Workshop｜Hijiyama University
- 2022
- Guest lecture｜Hijiyama University
Talk Event
- 2021
- Chizuru Masumura(Artist) × Itsushi Kawase（Visual Anthropologist, Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies）「On the embryo of images」｜bookstore BandB
- 2021
- Yoshiyuki Morioka(Morioka Shoten) × Kyoko Shimizu(Kyuryudo) × Chizuru Masumura(Artist)｜Morioka shoten
Radio appearance
- 2024
- RadiCro (Internet radio) Guest appearance｜Yoshitaka Mori's Art Republic
CONTRIBUTION
Masumura Chizuru cites a fondness for ancient Western painting. This influence is apparent in her motifs, but the fact that Masumura has an interest in the medieval techniques and materials that shaped oil painting is also evident in her method of depiction. Her method of creating depth by applying successive layers of paint calls for a long-sustained tension that impedes prolific output.
Masumura’s depictions of a part of her own body or a segment of a plant present us with a scene that is distant from everyday life. Her detailed approach and lustrous picture plane seem to release a quiet but audible sigh. Masumura’s paintings are also imbued with an indifference that rejects our gaze. The overall paintings are so complete that there is no room for anyone else. They are so cool and sober that it is impossible to detect the slightest hint of kindness or warmth. But at the same time, this sense of rejection is also what makes Masumura’s paintings attractive.
This solo exhibition of the artist’s work, held at neutron kyoto in 2010, is titled Tenderness. As Masumura herself suggests (“Many of my recent works contain emotions”), these paintings display a different attitude from those we are used to seeing. In contrast to her work of the past, which seemed to push the viewer away, these new paintings not only depict the “tenderness” of the exhibition title but also a sense of “sensitivity” and “delicacy.” They seem to represent a gradual shift in Masumura’s own sensibility, and have emerged as a way of breathing life into her intimate feelings. As she continues to suppress the emotions that well up inside of her, Masumura enjoys depicting the instant of feeling. What do the resultant motifs convey or express? They tell us that a painting is a generative medium rather than a finished product.
Kawasaki Koichi | Independent Curator
(Formerly Chief Curator / Assistant Director, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art)
This text was originally written for
Masumura Chizuru’s 2010 solo exhibition Tenderness at neutron kyoto