CONTENT TYPE

CURATOR’s EYE

Who is Kenta Nakajima? An in-depth look at the famous works of the sold-out painter and his prices.

2023/03/09 TRiCERA ART

Sold-out painter, Kenta Nakajima

Kenta Nakajima, born in 1984, is a painter from Tokyo.
He is known for his refined and highly technical skills, presenting oil paintings that evoke beauty and life through realistic expression.
Nakajima made his professional debut while still a student at Musashino Art University, and has produced more than 700 works to date. And all of them have been sold, indicating their popularity.

Fusion of traditional techniques and modern sensibilities

Nakajima's depiction techniques show a fusion of the traditions of Western painting and modern Japanese sensibilities.
The influence of the realistic expression of Flemish painting in Northern Europe, which was practiced in the birthplace of the oil painting medium, as well as the bold use of shadows seen in works by Caravaggio, a central figure in 18th century Baroque painting, can be felt in his work.

Traveling Mucha - Mission Impossible at Home
W 34.00cm x H 34.00cm / ¥260,000

The motifs and themes depicted are familiar to those of us living in contemporary Japan. Realistically depicted, they emerge as paintings with an overwhelming sense of presence.

Collaborations with Celebrities

The artist has also gained fame for his collaborations with celebrities. He has painted portraits of such celebrities as Jakucho Setouchi, Becky, Yua Niikawa, Nozomi Sasaki, and others, and we can witness his ability to depict the essence of human nature with warmth and at the same time cool-headed observation.

Mr. Jakucho Setouchi

Becky

Yua Niikawa

Ms. Nozomi Sasaki

How to Live as a Painter

From the beginning of his career, Kenta Nakajima has worked with the goal of "making a living as a painter alone.
Even with a Japanese art education, it is difficult to live solely on sales of one's own work as a professional. In order to defy such a situation, I have actively exposed myself to the art world while still in school, and have shaped the image of "Kenta Nakajima" by making good use of the media.
As a full-fledged painter and businessperson, Nakajima has aimed to revolutionize the Japanese art world, and continues to work energetically to this day.