TENGAone is a Tokyo‑based Japanese contemporary artist whose practice bridges street culture, graffiti, sculptural fabrication, and conceptual art. Born in 1977 and raised near U.S. military bases in Japan, TENGAone was first exposed to American‑style graffiti as a teenager and began creating his own spray‑paint work at age 14, marking the beginning of a lifelong engagement with visual languages rooted in subculture.His artist name originates from the Japanese phrase “Ga ga Tenshoku” (“painting is heaven’s vocation”), reflecting his belief in art as both calling and life’s work. Early in his career he worked in graphic and web design before formally launching his artistic practice in 2007, applying his skills across street murals, sculpture, and graphic design.TENGAone’s work navigates the tension between surface and substance, often challenging assumptions about material and imagery. He is best known for his “Fabrication” series, in which he meticulously carves Medium Density Fiberboard to mimic everyday discarded cardboard before painting it with vibrant, graffiti‑inflected imagery. By collapsing layers of representation and reality—fabricating both substrate and surface—his pieces prompt viewers to reconsider notions of authenticity, consumption, and perception.His imagery draws inspiration from pop culture, animation, grotesque figures, and urban iconography, delivering works that are at once playful, critical, and visually arresting. TENGAone has exhibited widely in Japan and internationally, with solo exhibitions such as Blind Spot (2018) and More Than Meets the Eye (2022) at Kaikai Kiki Gallery, and participated in major group shows including Beyond The Streets in Los Angeles.Blending the raw energy of graffiti with refined studio practice, TENGAone continues to expand contemporary dialogue around subculture, materiality, and the act of seeing itself.

Tengaone

Japanese

Main

Artist

Printer

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