CHISATO YAMASHITA

Born in Tokyo. Completed the Master’s Program in Japanese Painting, Art Major, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba. While still an undergraduate student, Yamashita was captivated by jellyfish at an aquarium, an encounter that has continued to serve as a source of inspiration through her fascination with marine life. Entrusting her works with a “longing for that which cannot be easily touched or approached,” she has gained recognition for her portraits that stand apart from conventional bijin-ga (portraits of beautiful women). In recent years, her practice has expanded toward a style that reflects her personal experiences and conveys a deeper sense of spirituality. Her large-scale work in this new frontier was selected for the Sompo Japan FACE Exhibition 2025, where it also received the Audience Award, drawing considerable attention. As mirrors that accompany the inner lives of people living in an information-driven society and pose subtle questions to, Yamashita’s paintings show a distinctive flexibility. To date, she has received numerous accolades, including at the newly reorganized 4th Nitten Exhibition, the 8th Seison Maeda Memorial Grand Prize Exhibition, Art Olympia 2019 Student Division, and the 20th Taisei Sato Prize Art Exhibition, among others.