Junko Oki
Junko Oki
With each stitch made meticulously by hand, Junko Oki engraves stories of life onto textiles. Without the guide of an under drawing, the artist free-handedly creates unique motifs and patterns by stitching her fabric, rejecting the structured tradition of embroidery. Although her works display seemingly simple techniques, their instinctive approach awakens a visceral reaction in viewers. Radiating energy, Oki’s sculptures and their room-filling presence extend the boundaries of both textiles and art.
Junko Oki was born in Urawa City, Japan in 1963 and is currently based in Kamakura. Oki’s major solo exhibitions include “Truly Indispensable” (Office Baroque, 2019), “JUNKO OKI” (Office Baroque, 2017), and the “11th shiseido art egg” (Shiseido Gallery, 2017). Her works were also featured in the group exhibition “Nous—sewing and living” (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, 2016). Her art book ‘PUNK’ was published by Bungei Shunju in 2014. Oki’s artworks have been acquired by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
WORKS
BIOGRAPHY
- 1963
- Born in Saitama, Japan
- 1988
- Graduated from Setsu Mode Seminar
Lives and works in Kanagawa, Japan
CV
Solo Exhibitions
- 2021
- “Yobitsugi” KOSAKU KANECHIKA, Tokyo, Japan
- 2020
- “Embroidery” KOSAKU KANECHIKA, Tokyo, Japan
“anthology” Hagi Uragami Museum, Yamaguchi, Japan
- 2019
- “Truly Indispensable” Office Baroque, Brussels, Belgium
- 2018
- “sense and sweetness” KOSAKU KANECHIKA, Tokyo, Japan
- 2017
- “Moon and chrysalis” Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
“JUNKO OKI” Office Baroque, Brussels, Belgium
- 2016
- “gris gris” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2015
- “PUNK” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan / MORIS, Hyogo, Japan / Morioka Shoten, Tokyo, Japan
- 2014
- “Red” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2013
- “Zeze Hihi” shima, Aichi, Japan
“culte a la mode” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan
“culte a la carte” COW BOOKS, Tokyo, Japan
“Tattoo” Gallery B, Kanagawa, Japan
- 2012
- “Outsider” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2011
- “poesy” Morioka Shoten, Tokyo, Japan / COW BOOKS, Tokyo, Japan / shima, Aichi, Japan（2011–2012）
“Mental Nourishment” DEE'S HALL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2009
- “Prayer” gallery feve, Tokyo, Japan
“Recycle” ARTS & SCIENCE Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan
Group Exhibitions
- 2021
- “GO FOR KOGEI 2021” Natadera Temple, Ishikawa, Japan
- 2019
- “Where We Now Stand—In Order to Map the Future [2]” 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- 2018
- “Yamagata Biennale 2018” Bunshokan, Yamagata, Japan
- 2017
- “Junko Oki | Masaho Anotani” KOSAKU KANECHIKA, Tokyo, Japan
- 2016
- “Nous—sewing and living” 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
“finding Ling-Ling’s head” cookie butcher, Antwerp, Belgium
“8 femmes” Office Baroque, Brussels, Belgium
Public Collections
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan
Awards
- 2017
- The 11th shiseido art egg, shiseido art egg Award
PRESS
- "THE ART OF PUNK: EMBROIDERY ARTIST, JUNKO OKI, FINALLY RELEASES HER LONG AWAITED ART BOOK" ｜Text by Honno-Hanashi | Bungei Shunju | December 6, 2014
