“My interests lie in finding a connection between then and now, the past and the present, through that contrast.”

Matsuyama Tomokazu, a New York based Japanese contemporary artist, explores his bi-cultural upbringing through his unique artistic style. As a globally recognized artist, he has consistently captivated audiences with his unique blend of pop culture and art history. Matsuyama's artistic style is consistent with his sampling technique, which combines motifs from the East and West in a multi-layered manner. This striking piece, "Nowhere Near" is a demonstration of his prowess and innovative approach.
This irregularly shaped canvas features three expressionless figures against expressive floral patterns and swallows, surface covered with floral wall patterns which the artist calls "Deco-florative" derived from traditional Japanese techniques and sensibility, that is characteristic of the artist’s work but also incorporate abstract imagery, as it is conceived as an homage to Abstract Expressionist painters of the New York School in the 1950s and 1960s.
Matsuyama's work has been widely exhibited and collected around the world, and can be found in prestigious institutions such as the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Japan Society in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney, the Long Museum in Shanghai, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art in Aomori, and even Harvard University.
“Nowhere Near”, measuring 170.2 x 264.2 cm, is Matsuyama’s largest canvas even selling in Japan region by auction. This gigantic and stunning image depicts a scene that is both familiar and unfamiliar, recognizable and mysterious, then and now, the past and the present. It is a classic demonstration to Matsuyama's extraordinary talent and vision, and a captivating addition to any art collection.