Yudai Nakaya

Artist
Japanese

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BIO

Contemporary Artist based in Tokyo, Japan.

His practice can be understood as a philosophical inquiry that traverses materials through a distinctly Japanese sensibility, reconstructing the subtle dissonances of contemporary life.

Working across lifescapes, organic materials, and technology, he develops diverse forms of expression that invite shifts in perception and offer new perspectives to the viewer.

In 2009, he suspended his artistic activities following an exploration into the service-oriented potential of art. After resuming his practice in 2024, he produced approximately 100 works across 15 series within a single year and was awarded a major grand prize in Japan the same year. He is currently building new forms of social engagement through collaborations with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Grants
2026 The Asahi Shimbun Foundation

PUBLICATIONS
2026 Conceptual book - One and Many Transparent Liquids
2026 Catalogue - H.Garden
2026 Catalogue - 21grams
2026 Catalogue - Lenticular
2026 Cross-disciplinary poetry journal - Koo
2025 Catalogue - CURATED ARTWORKS 2024 – 2025
2025 Poetry collection - Tokyo Byakuya Hikou

AWARDS
2026 Finalist, IAG AWARDS, Tokyo, Japan
2026 Selected, Independent Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Jury Award, GAKUTEN, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Special Prize, Annual Photography Awards, United States of America
2025 Finalist, IAG AWARDS, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Finalist, Metro Ad Creative Award, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Selected, Kudoyama Art Festival Open Call, Wakayama, Japan
2025 Selected, ACT Art Award Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Selected, Sam Hall Grand Prize Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Selected, Shoto Art Museum Open Call Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Selected, Tamagawa Art Caravan, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Selected, Sakai City Exhibition, Osaka, Japan
2025 Selected, UNKNOWN ASIA, Osaka, Japan
2025 Nominee, Fine Art Photography Awards, United States of America
2024 Grand Prix, Asia Digital Art Award, Tokyo, Japan
2024 Grand Prix, ACTA+ ART AWARD, Tokyo, Japan
2023 Award, Asia Digital Art Award, Fukuoka, Japan
2023 Selected, Watowa Art Award, Tokyo, Japan (First Screening Passed)
2009 Award, Good Design Award, Tokyo, Japan

AWARDS(POETRY)
2026 Selected – JILA Recitation Contest, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Honorable Mention, Hakushu Poetry Tribute, Fukuoka, Japan
2025 Selected, Gifu Prefectural Literary Festival, Gifu, Japan
2025 Selected, Sanpuku Literary Award, Saga, Japan

ARTIST PROGRAMS / FELLOWSHIPS
2025 Selected, The Artscene Artist Development Program (First Screening Passed)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 Yellow, Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2008 People, Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan (within an art event)
2008 Red, Kichijoji, Tokyo, Japan

ART FAIR
2026 Independent Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
2025 UNKNOWN ASIA, Osaka, Japan

ART FESTIVAL
2025 Kudoyama Art Festival, Wakayama, Japan
2025 Trolls in the Park, Tokyo, Japan
2025 ART POT EXHIBITION WEEK, Kanagawa, Japan

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 IAG AWARDS, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo, Japan
2025 IAG AWARDS, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo, Japan
2025 GAKUTEN - The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan
2025 TSUNAGU ACTION – ACTA+ POPUP STORE, Tamagawa Takashimaya, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Asia Digital Art Award, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
2025 ACT Art Grand Prize Exhibition, Art Complex Center, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Sam Hall Grand Prize Exhibition, Nishiwaki City Okanoyama Museum of Art, Hyogo, Japan
2025 Tamagawa Art Caravan, Showa Women's University, Tokyo, Japan
2025 ACTA+ ART AWARD Finalist Exhibition, COIL, Yamaguchi, Japan
2025 Shoto Museum of Art Open Call Exhibition, Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Sakai City Exhibition, Sakai City Cultural Center, Osaka, Japan
2024 ACTA+ ART AWARD, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower Atrium, Tokyo, Japan
2024 NARU FES / ARTEAT / +NARU, Tokyo, Japan
2024 Asia Digital Art Award, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
2012 Xperia 100 Design Collection, TABLOID, Tokyo, Japan
2010 P.C.A.D.EXHIBITION, Zuishoji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
2009 Good Design Expo, Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan
2007 Spiral Bank Exhibition 9×9, Spiral, Tokyo, Japan

JUDGE
2025 MAR apelar - Poetry of Gratitude

LECTURES
2012 Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan
2012 Cruise Inc., Tokyo, Japan
2011 Newspapers Sankei x TCPL, Tokyo, Japan
2010 Good Design Expo, Tokyo, Japan
2009 Sanctuary Publishing, Tokyo, Japan
2009 Tokyo Content Producers Lab, Tokyo, Japan

MEDIA
2026 All Night Nippon - Nippon Broadcasting System
2026 Tokyu Kabukicho Tower Outdoor Vision
2026 Taxi GO Signage
2026 Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture Signage
2025 Tokyo Art Beat
2025 Tokyo Newspaper
2024 Tokyo Newspaper
2024 Yamaguchi Newspaper
2009 TV Nippon "News Real Time"
2009 TV Fuji "Mezamyu"
2009 TV Fuji "Tokudane"
2009 TV Asahi "Super J Channel"
2009 Newspapers Yomiuri
2009 Newspapers Mainichi
2009 Newspapers Asahi
2009 Newspapers Nihon Keizai
2009 etc.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
2021-2026 AnatanoIbasyo, Tokyo, Japan

CATEGORIES

ARTWORKS

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