Koshiro Akiyama

Born in 1994, in Tokyo, Japan.
Lives and works in London, UK.

Education : Koshiro Akiyama studied at Camberwell College of Arts (London), MA Fine Art, Painting (2020-2021). He received a BA and MA in Japanese-style Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Akiyama is a Japanese visual artist whose works are based on photos and memories. Trained in both Japanese and Western painting traditions, he employs Nihonga by melding the refinement of mineral pigments, ink, and animal glue, with the fluid spontaneity of contemporary acrylic, gouache, and watercolour. His working process is slow and meditative, often beginning with a fleeting memory before dissolving the reference into something atmospheric and ambiguous.
In his works, artist explores the creative process, utopian ideals and morbidity, whilst demonstrating complex textures created on the papers surface.
The mediums Akiyama uses, especially acrylics, ink, and watercolour, are deliberately chosen to build up multiple layers with fluid brushstrokes. The expressive, often-times disturbing potential of his works together with a distinct brushwork style is a knowing not to Munch. Inspired by the famous expressionist artist, Akiyama utilizes vibrant, even lurid, colours to construct illusionistic and dream-like worlds.

His recent shows include: An Allegory of Love and Time atNew Normal Project in 2022, Royal Watercolor Society Open at Bankside Gallery in 2022, Sunny Art Prize 2022 at Sunny Art Center and London Grads Now 2021 at Saatchi Gallery.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2025/2026
From Small Trips to Unmapped Journeys, Ambar Quijano, Mexico City
2025
Undercurrents, Rhodes Contemporary Art Gallery, London
2024
Nowhere to Go, Gallery One, Los Angeles, USA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2025
Group Chat, Rhodes Contemporary Art Gallery, London
2022 Carnivals of Clouds, Janet Rady Fine Art, London