Born in 1976 in Saitama, Japan
Lives and works in Japan

Born in 1976 in Saitama, Japan
Lives and works in Japan
Painter, illustrator, sci-fi writer and manga artist, AYA TAKANO is inspired by all art forms, from erotic stamps of the Edo Period to impressionism, from Osamu Tezuka to Gustav Klimt. The artist has built a universe all her own. A universe made of infinite worlds, all means of escaping reality, gravity and its restraints, to attain a certain form of transcendence.
AYA TAKANO’s inner journeys wind their way into delicate works that convey a disturbing impression, somewhere between eroticism and impertinence. In a bedroom or in the metro, in front of the skyscrapers of a megalopolis or on the moon, naïve and androgynous girls are sketched out in thin, sharp lines. The artist’s mythology has constructed itself little by little, through her creations and visions of the unknown. In March 2011, a violent tsunami struck the northeastern coasts of Japan and led to the nuclear accident of Fukushima. A real wake-up call for the artist, this catastrophe deeply influenced her work. Preferring oil paint, which is more natural, to acrylic paint, for example, AYA TAKANO seems to pursue a new artistic quest, both humble and spiritual, influenced by a unique interest in science and guided by an absolute respect for nature and human life.
solo shows
2022
- thank you world, you now look a little bit like a wonderland, Perrotin, Shanghai, China
2021
- beginning, liminal, ego, Perrotin, Hong Kong
2020
- Let’s make the universe a better place, Perrotin, Seoul, South Korea
2019
- Unio Mystica, Galerie Perrotin New York, USA
2017
- The Jelly Civilization Chronicle, Galerie Perrotin, Paris, France
- Synesthesia, Pavillon Bosio, École Supérieure d'Arts Plastiques, Monte Carlo, Monaco
2015
- The Ocean Inside, The Flowers Inside, Johyun Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2014
- La Maison d'Aya BIBO, Hong Kong
2012
- Heaven Is Inside Of You, Galerie Perrotin, Hong Kong
- To Lose Is To Gain, Galerie Perrotin, Paris, France
2011
- Stars, flowers and honeynight, SieboldHuis, Leiden, Netherlands
2010
- The Universe Portal, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
- AYA TAKANO, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden Baden, Germany
- Hong Kong Art Fair, Booth Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Hong Kong
2009
- Reintagrating Worlds, Skarstedt Gallery, New York USA
2008
- Toward Eternity, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France
2007
- Tradition and modernity, curated by Hélène Kelmachter, Miro Foundation, Barcelona.
- Wild dogs, hawks, owls, cats, a landfill the size of 44 and a half Tokyo Domes, the stratosphere, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Miami, USA
2006
- City Dog, Parco Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; Parco Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
2005
- Frieze Art Fair, London, United Kingdom
- The Far Reaches of The Universe, My Garden, Blum & Poe Gallery, Santa Monica, USA
2004
- AYA TAKANO, a web project for Digital Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, USA
- Naoki Takizawa for Issey Miyake, 2004-5 Autumn Winter Collection, Paris, Tokyo (collaboration)
2003
- Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France
2002
- Space Ship EE, nanogalerie, Paris, France
2000
- Hot Banana Fudge, NADiff, Tokyo, Japan
1997
- SHU WA KIMASERI, shop33, Tokyo, Japan
group shows
2022
- Roppongi Art Night Group Show. Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Head in the Clouds, Perrotin Tokyo, Japan
2021
- Apple Cycle / Cosmic Seed, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, Hirosaki, Japan
- 2021 Kaikai Kiki Autumn Show, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Healing, Perrotin, Shanghai, China
2020
- Healing, Perrotin Matignon, Paris, France
- Healing, Perrotin, Seoul, South Korea
- Kaleidoscopes: Contemporary Portraiture, Perrotin, Hong Kong
2019
- A Passion for Drawing. The Guerlain Collection from the Centre Pompidou Paris, Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria
- MURAKAMI VS MURAKAMI, Takashi Murakami's solo show, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong
- 2019 Kaikai Kiki Summer Show, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo
2018
- Bubblewrap, Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan
2017
- Murakami by Murakami, Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway
- Arts Visuels Au Japon Depuis 1970, Pompidou Metz, France
2015
- Animamix Biennale, Daegu Art Museum, South Korea
2014
- Bishojo: Young Pretty Girls in Art History - 16 Perspectives for Studying the Idea of the bishojo, Aomori Museum, Aomori City, Japan
2010
- Kyoto-Tokyo: From Samurais to Mangas, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
- Garden of Painting Japanese Art of the 00s, The National Museum of Art, Osaka
2009
- The Very Bottom Of The Air, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Winter Garden, Hara Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- VRAOUM, La Maison Rouge, Paris, France
2008
- AYA-Chiho-Drive, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Quando vidas se tornam forma - Panorama da arte contemporanea brasileira e japonesa, Museum of Modern Art, San Paolo, Brazil / Museum Oscar Niemeyer, Curitiba, Brazil
- Kaikai Kiki Artists, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2007
- Kawaii! Japan now, Fundation Joan Miro, Barcelona, Spain
- The Door to Summer, Art Tower Mito, Mito, Japan
2006
- Spank the Monkey, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, United Kingdom
- Etoile, Xavel, Inc. (Virtual department store design)
- AYA TAKANO, Chiho Aoshima, Chinatsu Ban Exhibition, Mizuho Oshiro Gallery, Kagoshima, Japan
- Chiho Aoshima, Mr., Aya Takano, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Lyon, France
2005
- Kaikai Kiki Exhibition, Aoi Gallery, Osaka, Japan
- Japan Pop, Helsinki Museum of Art, Helsinki, Finland
- The Sensual Line, Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture, Japan Society, New York, USA (curated by Takashi Murakami)
- MTA Subway Poster Design, Public Art Fund and Japan Society, New York, USA
- What’s Good Conference, Hong Kong Art Centre, Hong Kong (Lecture), China
- Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France
2004
- T-Junction, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France
- Fiction. Love: Ultra New Vision in Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan
- Chiho Aoshima, Mr., AYA TAKANO, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin at LFL Gallery, New York, USA
- Tokyo Girls Bravo, Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York, USA
2003
- Girls Don’t Cry, Parco Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Naoki Takizawa for Issey Miyake, Tokyo (collaboration), Japan
- Hope—The Future is in Our Hands, LaForet Harajuku, Tokyo
2002
- The Japanese Experience – Inevitable, Das Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Tokyo Girls Bravo 2, NADiff, Tokyo, Japan
- Chiho Aoshima, AYA TAKANO, Mr., Takashi Murakami, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France
2001
- Superflat, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN; Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, USA
- Hiropon Show, White Cube Gallery, London, United Kingdom; Shinsaibashi Parco, Osaka, Japan
- Yokai Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan
2000
- Superflat (curated by Takashi Murakami), Parco Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1999
- Tokyo Girls Bravo, NADiff, Tokyo; Parco Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
- Hiropon Show, Parco Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
- Hiropon 32/80, NADiff, Tokyo, Japan
1998
- Ero Pop Christmas, NADiff, Tokyo, Japan
- Hiropon Show, George’s, Los Angeles, US
1997
- Hiropon Show, shop33, Tokyo; Iwataya Z-side, Fukuoka, Japan
- Hiropon Show, Manken Gallery, Kanazawa, Japan
2022
Aya TAKANO
2022年7月15日 - 2022年9月10日
上海
3/F, 27 Hu Qiu Road, Huangpu District
thank you world, you now look a little bit like a wonderland
Johan CRETEN, Jean-Philippe DELHOMME, Jens FÄNGE, Bernard FRIZE, Laurent GRASSO, Gregor HILDEBRANDT, Izumi KATO, Klara KRISTALOVA, ob, Otani Workshop, Paola PIVI, Gabriel RICO, Aya TAKANO
2022年2月9日 - 2022年3月19日
東京
Piramide Building, 1F, 6-6-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Head in the Clouds
2021
Aya TAKANO
2021年6月26日 - 2021年7月24日
香港
807, K11 ATELIER Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
beginning, liminal, ego
Chiho AOSHIMA, Emi KURAYA, Takuro KUWATA, KYNE, Kasing LUNG, MADSAKI, Mr., Takashi MURAKAMI, Shin MURATA, OB, Otani Workshop, Aya TAKANO, TENGAONE, Yuji UEDA
2021年2月5日 - 2021年3月20日
上海
3/F, 27 Hu Qiu Road, Huangpu District
Healing
策展人 Takashi Murakami
2020
Chiho AOSHIMA, Yukimasa IDA, Kasing LUNG, Emi KURAYA, MADSAKI, Takashi MURAKAMI, Shin MURATA, OB, Otani Workshop, Aya TAKANO, Yuji UEDA, TENGAONE
2020年10月17日 - 2020年12月23日
巴黎
2bis avenue Matignon 75008 Paris
Healing
策展人 Takashi Murakami
Aya TAKANO
2020年9月18日 - 2020年10月23日
首爾
1F 5 Palpan-gil, Jongno-gu
Let's make the universe a better place
Takashi MURAKAMI, Mr., MADSAKI, TENGAONE, Kasing LUNG, Aya TAKANO, Chiho AOSHIMA, Emi KURAYA, OB, Otani Workshop, Yuji UEDA, Shin MURATA
2020年7月23日 - 2020年9月4日
首爾
1F 5 Palpan-gil, Jongno-gu
Healing
Hernan BAS, CHEN Fei, Jean-Philippe DELHOMME, Izumi KATO, MADSAKI, Eddie MARTINEZ, Barry MCGEE, Mr., Takashi MURAKAMI, Aya TAKANO
2020年6月20日 - 2020年8月8日
香港
807, K11 ATELIER Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Kaleidoscopes: Contemporary Portraiture
2019
Aya TAKANO
2019年3月2日 - 2019年4月13日
紐約
130 Orchard Street
UNIO MYSTICA
2017
Aya TAKANO
2017年3月16日 - 2017年5月13日
巴黎
76 RUE DE TURENNE 75003 PARIS
The Jelly Civilization Chronicle
2014
Chiho AOSHIMA, Daniel ARSHAM, Sophie CALLE, Johan CRETEN, Tracey EMIN, Daniel FIRMAN, GELITIN, Laurent GRASSO, JR, Gregor HILDEBRANDT, KAWS, Bharti KHER, Klara KRISTALOVA, MR., Guy LIMONE, Ryan MCGINLEY, Takashi MURAKAMI, Prune NOURRY, Jean-Michel OTHONIEL, Paola PIVI, Terry RICHARDSON, Germaine RICHIER, Aya TAKANO, Xavier VEILHAN, Andy WARHOL, Marina ABRAMOVIC, Valerie BELIN, Guerrilla Girls, Alex KATZ, Annette MESSAGER, Yoko ONO, Rob PRUITT, Cindy SHERMAN, Taryn SIMON, Mickalene THOMAS, Agnès THURNAUER, Tom WESSELMANN
2014年5月27日 - 2014年6月25日
巴黎
60 RUE DE TURENNE 75003 PARIS
G I R L
策展人 Pharrell Williams
2012
Aya TAKANO
2012年11月22日 - 2012年12月29日
香港
50 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, 17TH FLOOR - HONG KONG
Heaven Is Inside Of You
Aya TAKANO
2012年6月23日 - 2012年7月28日
巴黎
10 IMPASSE SAINT CLAUDE 75003 PARIS
To Lose Is To Gain
2009
Chiho AOSHIMA, Sophie CALLE, Johan CRETEN, Bernard FRIZE, GELITIN, Bharti KHER, KOLKOZ, Klara KRISTALOVA, Martin OPPEL, Jean-Michel OTHONIEL, Paola PIVI, Aya TAKANO, Tatiana TROUVÉ, Piotr UKLANSKI, Chris VASELL, Xavier VEILHAN, Peter ZIMMERMANN
2009年3月14日 - 2009年5月16日
巴黎
76 RUE DE TURENNE 75003 PARIS
2008
Aya TAKANO
2008年5月6日 - 2008年6月14日
巴黎
76 RUE DE TURENNE 75003 PARIS
Toward Eternity
2007
Aya TAKANO
2007年2月10日 - 2007年4月7日
miami
Wild dogs, hawks, owls, cats, a landfill the size of 44 and a half Tokyo Domes, the stratosphere
2004
Chiho AOSHIMA, Aya TAKANO, MR., Naoki TAKIZAWA
2004年9月11日 - 2004年11月6日
巴黎
20 rue Louise Weiss 75003 Paris
T-junction
2003
Aya TAKANO
2003年3月1日 - 2003年4月19日
巴黎
30 rue Louise Weiss 75003 Paris
2002
Chiho AOSHIMA, Mr., Takashi MURAKAMI, Aya TAKANO
2002年6月1日 - 2002年7月27日
巴黎
30 rue Louise Weiss 75003 Paris