Hiroshi Ueta

AWAJI ISLAND, B. 1974

Hiroshi Ueta, born in Awaji Island, Japan, is a Kyoto based artist and calligrapher, who is passionate in exploring the realms in between conceptual art, performance, calligraphy and design. He studied calligraphy under his mother at an early age, and graduated with a BA in Japanese Calligraphy from Shikoku University in 1996.

Ueta’s work attempts to examine a deeper meaning in calligraphy, as well as the existential aspects of what cannot be expressed in words, in which he uses abstract concepts creating his own artistic language through his paintings, installations, as well as performances, among other forms. His work has been exhibited at Sotheby’s New York, Art Sydney 2006, KIAF 2007, MAISON&OBJET, Nuit Blanche Kyoto (2019, 2022, 2023), among others.

In 2014, Ueta won the Asia Design Award for his illustrated books “Kecho”, as well as "Ryutandan" written by Kyoka Izumi. His cover and title design of the book "Umi no Niwa" by Tamiko Ohtake was awarded the Best Prize at the 2023 Japan Book Design Award. For the upcoming EXPO OSAKA 2025, Ueta is creating the calligraphy design for the Cartier Pavilion.

Ueta will be part of a duo artist exhibition “Desert Sun” opening in December 2024 at Curagenda Galerie.