Artist In Residence
Curator: Brutus
Launched in 1980, Brutus is a bimonthly Japanese culture and lifestyle magazine published in Tokyo by Magazine House. Known for its thematic issues and trend-setting perspective, Brutus explores diverse topics like art, design, food, travel and fashion that resonate with curious, culture-minded readers in Japan and beyond.
(Image copyright: ® Hearst Holdings, Inc.)
Satoko Imazu
Satoko Imazu is a photographer focusing on travel and portraiture. Active since 2004 after studying under Shingo Wakagi, Satoko has exhibited work in Japan and internationally.
Satoko will be in residence during April 2026 and will present an exhibition at Ace Hotel Kyoto from May-July 2026.
Noritake
Noritake is an illustrator known for creating monochromatic drawings for advertising, books, magazines and fashion. His notable works include the Shueisha Bunko mascot — a book-loving cat named Yomanya — and the packaging for Koeido Takeda’s Kibidango, a soft, sweet mochi treat. Noritake’s recent publications include WORKS and Peace and War, co-authored with Shuntaro Tanikawa.
Noritake will be in residence during July 2026 and will present an exhibition at Ace Hotel Kyoto from August-October 2026.
Yusuke Hanai
Yusuke Hanai is an artist based in Hayama, whose distinctive style blends Japanese aesthetics with the spirit of 1950s and ’60s American counterculture illustration. Known for his expressive human figures and memorable, character-driven compositions, Yusuke’s work carries a playful yet reflective sensibility rooted in surf culture, folk art and everyday life.
He began his professional career in 2006 with an exhibition at The Surf Gallery in California and has since exhibited internationally. His work has been commissioned by brands including VANS, NIXON and BEAMS, and was selected for the permanent collection of the Santos Surf Museum in Brazil.
Yusuke will be in residence during October 2026 and will present an exhibition at Ace Hotel Kyoto from November-January 2027.
Erika Kobayashi
Erika Kobayashi is an artist and author whose work explores time, history, memory and the traces left in places. She creates immersive installations in Japan and internationally that recreate scenes from her texts, where fiction and documentary intersect.
The recipient of literary accolades including the 78th Mainichi Publishing Culture Award, the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for Translation and the Japan Sherlock Holmes Club Encouragement Award, Erika has recently exhibited solo and in group exhibitions such as 13th Berlin Biennale (2025) and 80 Years After the War: The Myth of Tomorrow—Atomic Bomb x Art (2025). Her publications include: She Looks into the Mirror, Your Dear Kitty, Children of Light: Luminous and I Can’t Forget.
Erika will be in residence during January 2027 and will present an exhibition at Ace Hotel Kyoto from February-April 2027.