Hiroshi Sugito

Hiroshi Sugito’s paintings combine abstract and recognizable motifs, often stylized to the point of near abstraction. Recurring elements such as mountaintops, waves, blossoms, birds, airplanes, missiles, fire, windows, and especially curtains are employed not to tell literal stories, but as compositional devices that shape the visual rhythm of his works. In some pieces, he explores alternative representations of natural phenomena or even sounds, transforming perception into painterly form. Sugito’s distinctive style is characterized by translucent layering—achieved through acrylic paint and dry pigments—minimal linear perspective, and generous use of empty space. While deeply informed by Western painting traditions, his work remains rooted in his training in traditional Japanese painting techniques, or Nihonga. Yet, rather than depicting conventional scenic imagery, he focuses on a blend of abstract and figurative forms, creating dreamlike worlds, altered realities, and childlike fantasies that oscillate between familiarity and imagination. His recent explorations include three-dimensional media, extending his painterly approach into sculptural territory. Recognized as part of the Tokyo-Pop movement, Sugito’s work reflects a synthesis of Eastern and Western influences, balancing formal experimentation with playful, introspective, and often surreal narratives. ...