Galerie Sho Contemporary Art is delighted to present a new exhibition, 'Makoto Saito: Portraits'. This exhibition is dedicated to selected work from Saito's latest project featuring portraits of artists; Antonin Artaud, French playwright, whose portrait by Man Ray that Saito was inspired by, being among them. Being 'ferociously interested in faces', Saito picked artists whom he respects, and others he despises. What has enthralled Saito is the hidden venom behind individual faces. Their maleficence became charms to Saito who craved for a new representation.

Makoto Saito (b. 1952, Fukuoka, Japan) started his career as a graphic designer in the 1970’s. Once being one of the most celebrated designers, Saito's graphic work has been acquired by over 30 museums around the globe, including The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art that has collected around 80 of his pieces. Having practiced painting since his twenties, Saito has been awarded several prizes in Japan, twice by Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art. After switching his career to become an artist, he explores human figures and their representation by deconstructing them. After debuting with his first solo exhibition at The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, in 2008, he has exhibited internationally. His work has also been acclaimed in international art markets.

Courtesy of Galerie Sho Contemporary