UES JAPAN TOUR 2026 “UES PLACE,” which will be held at Feel Records Kyoto Hanare “Gallery Nikai” from October 23, 2026. We asked the artist UES, who is holding his first solo exhibition in Japan, about his background and the highlights of the exhibited works.
Please introduce yourself.
My name is UES, a paint artist living in Osaka. I also dabble in graphic design from time to time.
What inspired you to start painting?
When I was in junior high school, my friend was doing street art, and I thought, “That’s honestly so cool! I want to try drawing too.” That was what got me started.
Please tell us about the artists or works that have influenced you.
Of course, the artists who have been active at the forefront of street art since I started drawing are a given, but if we’re talking about a different style, it would be H.R. Giger, and my teacher from my student days, Akiyoshi Mishima. Rather than the works themselves, I am often influenced by their approach to production, their thinking, and their perception.
What are you expressing in your work?
I am greedy, so I incorporate many elements, but I think to myself that I am expressing the “coexistence of boldness and delicacy” at the same time, rather than a specific motif. I intend to further refine this in the future.
What is the concept of the solo exhibition held at Gallery Nikai?
I am creating works with the concept of “Wa” (Japanese style).
What kind of works will be exhibited in this solo exhibition?
I want to exhibit many new works filtered through my own perspective, using various motifs and carefully selected colors. We have prepared a wide range of sizes, from palm-sized to F20-size canvases.
What does expression mean to UES?
It has a duality: it is both a question to the viewer and a way of checking the answers for myself. During and after expressing, I get a unique emotion and sensation, and I feel that the real pleasure comes from having my feelings organized and cleared up.
I am also conscious of “imposing freedom,” but I feel this has no end and is something that will be repeated forever.
UES
An artist whose work is rooted in street culture and built around the concept of “Analog x Digital.” Specializing in original calligraphy, he engages in a wide range of activities including murals, live painting, and graphic design. He is currently in the midst of his solo exhibition tour “UES PLACE – Japan tour 2026 -,” visiting five locations nationwide starting in April. This marks his first solo exhibition in eight years since the 2018 event in Australia, and his very first in Japan. Look forward to the upcoming exhibitions at three locations in the second half of the year.
UES Official Website: https://www.ues-place.com/
UES Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/uesplace/
UES PLACE Solo exhibition -Japan tour 2026-
Date & Time: Oct 23 (Fri) – 25 (Sun), 10:00 – 18:00 ※Until 17:00 on the final day
Admission: Free