Born in Tokyo, 1975, Usui graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University, Department of Photography in 1998 and studied under the pioneering photographer Hosoe Eikoh. He lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. His past solo exhibitions include “Macaroni Christian” (Konica Minolta Plaza Gallery, 1996), “Showa 88” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2011 and Shadai Gallery 2013), “Showa 92” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2015), “Showa 88-95” (KKAG, 2018), and “Showa 96” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2019).

Usui has also participated in numerous group exhibitions including “San Marino International Photomeeting” in 1997, “In & Out” at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, “A Vision of Japan” at Galleri Balder, Oslo, “Inside Out: Through Japanese and Israeli Lenses” at TEO Center for Culture, Art and Content, Herzliya, and “Focus” at Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts & Culture Center.

His main publications are “Macaroni Christian” (Bijutsu Shuppan, 2006), “Showa 88” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2011), “Showa 92” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2015), “Showa 96” (Zen Foto Gallery, 2019), and “Photography? End?” (Magic Hour Edition, 2022). In 2015 he was responsible for the planning and cinematography of the movie “The 14th Dalai Lama”. Usui’s works are included in public collections such as Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Yamanashi, Tokyo Polytechnic University, and the Amana Collection, Tokyo.

Selected Publications

2006 “Macaroni Christian”, Bijutsu Shuppan-sha, Tokyo
2011 “Showa88”, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2015 “Showa92”, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2019 “Showa96”, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2022 “Photography? End?” Magic Hour Edition, Tokyo

Selected Solo Exhibitions

1999 Macaroni Christian, Konica Minolta Plaza Gallery, Tokyo
2011 Showa88, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2013 Showa88, Shadai Gallery, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo
2015 Showa92, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2018 Showa88-95, KKAG, Tokyo
2019 Showa96, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo
2022 B/W, Place M Yokohama, Yokohama
2022 Showa Trilogy, Ibasho Gallery, Antwerp

Selected Group Exhibitions

1997 Sun Marino International Photomeeting, San Marino
2000 Humanscape, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Yamanashi
2003 In & Out, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo
2009 Editor's Choice: Magazine editors select the most promising young
photographers, Ricoh Ring Cube Gallery, Tokyo
2010 Snaps, Ricoh Ring Cube Gallery, Tokyo
2010 Tokyo Photo, Roppongi Hills Academyhills 40, Tokyo
2012 Contemporary Japanese Photobooks,
    The Photographer's Gallery, London
2012 Tokyo Photo, Tokyo Midtown Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2012 10×10 Japanese Photobooks, ICP-Bard MFA Studio Space, New York
2013 The Emerging Photography Artist Instyle Photography Center, Tokyo, Japan 2013 Tokyo Photo, Zojo-ji, Tokyo
2014 CREATIVE©ITIES: Mapping creativity in Asia-Pacific’s cities today,
    P2 Warehouse, Kaohsiung
2014 Japon, Abbaye St André Centre d’art Contemporain, Meymac
2014 Fotofever, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
2015 The 8th Gelatin Silver Session, Axis Gallery, Tokyo
2015 Daikanyama Photo Fair, Daikanyama Hillside Forum, Tokyo
2015 Fotofever, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
2015 Regards Croisés Phot'Aix 2015, Festival
    photographique d’Aix en Provence
2015 40×40, Shadai Gallery, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo
2016 The 8th Gelatin Silver Session,
    Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City
2016 Flowers, Shadai Gallery, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo Japan
2016 A Vision of Japan, Galleri Balder, Oslo
2017 The 9th Gelatin Silver Session, Axis Gallery, Tokyo
2017 Colors, Shadai Gallery, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo
2019 The 10th Gelatin Silver Session, Axis Gallery, Tokyo
2019 GSS Fujifilm Acros × 39 Photographers, Fujifilm Square, Tokyo
2019 Rencontres de la Photographie de Marrakech, Marrakech
2022 Icon Contemporary Photography II, Axis Gallery, Tokyo
2022 Inside Out: Through Japanese and Israeli Lenses, TEO Center for Culture, Art and Content, Herzliya

Awards

1996 The 18th Fox Talbot Awards
1999 Fuji Photo Salon Newcomers Award — Encouraging Prize
2006 Advertising Photography in Japan 2006, Grand Prize,
Japan Advertising Photographer’s Association
2011 Advertising Photography in Japan 2011, Grand Prize,
    Japan Advertising Photographer’s Association

Collections

Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo
Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Yamanashi
The Amana Collection, Tokyo

Gallery Exhibitions

Publications & Prints

NewRecommended

Showa 99

Kazuyoshi USUI

Related News / Blog