Chiharu Kihara Art Collection: Vitalism

By Chiharu Kihara

Blazing Strokes — The Vital Source Flowing Through Every Brushmark

Chiharu Kihara is one of the most compelling painters on the contemporary art scene today. Through an intense communion with her subjects — cats, birds, insects, flowers, and beyond — she channels raw energy into every canvas. Painting with her fists, palms, and entire body, her explosive strokes manifest the very "source of vitality," shaking the viewer to their core.

This long-awaited debut monograph centers on works from her solo exhibition series "Vitalism," held nearly every year since 2012. It also features approximately 120 tableaux including early works from her first solo show in 1999, plus a selection from her remarkable "5-Minute Drawing" series — daily works posted on Mercari since 2016, now numbering over 12,000. The volume is enriched by critical essays from art historian Shin Shimao and contemporary art critic Ren Fukuzumi, along with a conversation with her longtime friend Shizuyo Yamasaki (Nankai Candies). A quarter-century of artistic practice, distilled into one essential volume.

Publication Details

• Format: B5, softcover
• Pages: 160
• Published: December 20, 2024
• ISBN: 978-4-87586-721-0
• Publisher: Geijutsu Shinbunsha

Ordering and shipping

Please contact roidworksgallery in Yushima, Tokyo before ordering to confirm availability, shipping charges and dispatch timing. The book will be packed and shipped from the gallery.