Ryohei Usui

Ryohei Usui is a contemporary artist born in 1983 in Shizuoka, Japan, who currently lives and works in Tokyo. Usui is known for his art that utilizes ordinary objects as the main motif/medium. He creates works that alter our perspectives on things already existing in our lives, updating the old Japanese term for metaphor, "Mitate," to contemporary times.

Usui's works invite the viewer to look at everyday objects in a new way, transforming them into thought-provoking and often playful pieces. He uses a variety of media, including sculpture, installation, and photography, to create his works. Some of his pieces have included a giant pencil that appears to be drawing a staircase in the air, a photograph of a balloon that appears to be deflating, and a sculpture made of a stack of bowls that have been fused together.

Usui has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally, including shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the Yokohama Museum of Art, and the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. He has received several awards for his work, including the 14th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art in 2016.