On the occasion of Fine Arts Paris, Galerie Louis & Sack is proud to present a curated selection of previously unseen works by Japanese artist Akira Kito (1925–1994), a singular and independent figure of the Nouvelle École de Paris. These rare pieces will be shown in dialogue with the ceramic sculptures of Yukiya Izumita (b. 1966), creating a compelling encounter between two distinct yet resonant artistic voices.
A voluntary exile in the vibrant Paris of the 1950s, Kito broke free from Japanese aesthetic and cultural conventions to forge a visual language infused with humor, irreverence, and a profound sense of freedom. Closely connected to avant-garde circles and kindred in spirit to Kumi Sugai, he developed a strikingly original body of work populated by hybrid and grotesque figures: the Oni, mischievous spirits drawn from Japanese folklore, which he reimagined in the streets and cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
This presentation marks an essential rediscovery of a free-spirited artist, whose singular vision resonates powerfully within the context of contemporary art. Shown for the first time at the Grand Palais, the selection will be accompanied by works from Yukiya Izumita, a leading figure in contemporary Japanese ceramics. Izumita’s creations—born of an unrestrained spirit and hand—embody the raw and inspiring presence of nature that permeates the Tohoku region, his native land and enduring source of creativity.
