BIO

Emi Wanibuchi (b. November 18, 1968, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan) is a contemporary painter based in Tokyo. Working primarily with pencil on washi paper, mineral pigments, sumi ink, gold and silver leaf, and acrylic, her practice is deeply rooted in traditional Japanese painting while drawing influence from Surrealism and abstract art. Wanibuchi is recognized for her innovative use of layered materials—particularly metals and mineral pigments—that create compositions at the threshold of representation and abstraction.

Her work explores themes such as dignity, spirituality, social inequality, gender, fairness, and the human condition, often informed by ethical and philosophical inquiry.The inherent resistance of her materials to blending serves as a metaphor for human relationships: parallel paths that coexist in tension and harmony.

A turning point in her career occurred in 2025 when her work Pandora’s Box was longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize, with the award ceremony scheduled for fall of that year. In the same year, she received the Takahiro Komatsu Prize at The 10th SHIBUYA ART AWARDS 2024, held at Elephant Studio in Tokyo. The previous year, her 2024 series A New Planet marked a breakthrough in both artistic direction and professional recognition. Expanding her material vocabulary and thematic reach, the series signaled a bold new phase in her artistic evolution.

She was also selected for the inaugural Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts & Culture Prize in 2024, organized by Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts in Fukuoka. Her recent exhibitions include The 10th SHIBUYA ART AWARDS 2024 Prize Exhibition (Tokyo, 2025) and consecutive group shows in 2023 and 2024 with Takenoko-kai Japanese Art at the Nihon Bijutsuin (The Japan Art Institute) in Tokyo.

Her work was featured in the Jewelry maison Catalog (2024), highlighting the recipients of the 1st Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts & Culture Prize.

CV

Born in 1968 in Yokosuka Kanagawa,Japan.

Resides and works in Tokyo, Japan

EDUCATION/TRAINING :

1974-1981, Jyun Furusawa Art School Kanagawa,Japan

2001-2017, Kyogen Izumi Style (similar to traditional Japanese Noh Theatre.

The master is Manzo Nomura Ⅸ ) Tokyo,Japan

2007-2009, Voice Studies Bill Pepper- Head of Voice Studies, Theatre Movement and

Acting, NIDA -National Institute of Dramatic Art ,Sydney, Australia

2010-2010, Acting Roberta Wallach, Scene Study (NY Actor’s studio ) Tokyo,Japan

2022-2025, Takeshi Nagai Japanese Art School Tokyo,Japan

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS :
2025, The private sphere ,Hotel New Otani, Tokyo, Japan

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS :

2025, CHIYODA × SHIBUGEI SHIBUYA ART AWARDS, Le Ginglet, Tokyo, Japan

2025, The 10th SHIBUYA ART AWARDS 2024 Prize exhibition, Elephant Studio ,Tokyo, Japan

2024, Takenoko kai Japanese art, Nihonnbijyutsuinn, Tokyo,Japan

2023, Takenoko kai Japanese art , Nihonnbijyutsuinn, Tokyo,Japan

ART FAIRS :

2023, Geisai#22 & Classic Takashi Murakami's art festival,Tokyo big sight, Tokyo,Japan

SELECTED COLLECTIONS :

Noguchi is collected by various private collectors in Japan

Kawahara is collected by various private collectors in Japan

Ueno is collected by various private collectors in Japan

AWARDS, RESIDENCIES, GRANTS :

2025, Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 ,nominee, UK

2025, The 10th SHIBUYA ART AWARDS2024 Takahiro Komatsu Prize,SHIBUYA ART

          AWARDS, Elephant Studio ,Tokyo, Japan

2024, The 1st Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts & Culture Prize 2024 an art prize/selected,

          Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts, Fukuoka,Japan

SELECTED PRESS :

Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts, “1st Mr. & Mrs. Abe Arts & Culture Prize 2024 ” Jewelry Meizon Catalog (2024).

Professional contributions: PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS :

2024, Painting of No parking Sign, MITSUBISHI JISHO COMMUNITY HOLDINGS CO.,LTD

2019, Noh-Kyogen instructor, Kyogen” Usagi” workshop,Lisbon Japanese school,

          Lisbon ,Portugal.

2017, A guest lecturer,Noh-Kyogen with Voice studies,Eda high school,Kanagawa,Japan

2017, Noh-Kyogen instructor, Kyogen” Usagi” workshop,Santiago Japanese

          school,Santiago ,Chili. This workshop was authorized as an undertaking of the 120th    

          anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Chili.

2011-2013 , Noh-Kyogen instructor ,Noh- Kyogen ,Voice studies and Shakespear

           workshop,Urahara Geidai art school,Tokyo,Japan

2011-2013 , A guest lecturer,Voice studies, Shakespear and the art of Improvisation,

            Studies of Culture, Theatre and Representation, Kyorin University,Tokyo,Japan

2009, Noh-Kyogen Teaching Assistant /ITI Japan's traditional art performance workshop

          for international artists Vol.21 Noh-Kyogen , Umewaka Noh Theatre,Tokyo,Japan

2008, Voice studies (Japanese and Noh-Kyogen) Tutor”,The Kitchen” NIDA

          (National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia ) second year private production,

          NIDA,Sydney, Australia