Kenji Hirata

‘The Way Out is the Way In’, acrylic on canvas, 24 inch x 18 inch, 2009

“Kenji hirata is a New York based painter from Nagasaki, Japan. His work engages in the world and attempts to reveal something deep within the spirit of things. In his paintings, he fuses an evolving complex narrative out of the five elements of water, fire,metal, wood, and soil. He moves confidently between compositions of layered density and vast areas of open fields and clear forms. He is guided by the Buddhist idea that emptiness is everything eternal.

‘Universal Appeal Tres’, Latex on wall at Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston Salem, NC, 2007

As an original member of the “Barnstormers” Mr. Hirata has created large scale public mural paintings in both New York, Miami, and in the rural town of Cameron, NC. The public paintings in North Carolina have created an ongoing cross-cultural dialogue between artists and the small town residents.Hirata’s message is that creativity is essential for a bright future and much needed in times of great concern.

‘The Way Out is the Way In’ (another maze), acrylic on canvas, 24 inch x 18 inch, 2009

Mr. Hirata is an artist who creates work in an impressive variety of situations, from huge colorful public murals, to smaller canvases,to animated works for film. Both his solo and collaborative works have made him a well respected, innovative, and important member of the New York art and film community”.

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