Mari Ito
B. 1980 in Tokyo,
Japan and currently based in Barcelona, Spain
Mari Ito is a contemporary artist specializing in Nihonga, Japanese-style painting. After moving to Barcelona in 2006, she expanded her practice to include 2-D and sculptural works, blending traditional techniques with a unique, bold aesthetic. Her art draws from childhood experiences and explores animism, desire, and the primal aspects of human nature, often featuring flowers with faces to convey humour and emotion.
Ito’s work has been exhibited internationally in cities like Barcelona, Basel, Istanbul, and New York. Notable exhibitions include Gaudi’s Casa Vicenç in Barcelona and the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid.
She has also participated in major art fairs in Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, Miami, and Tokyo, and was a featured artist at ARCO Madrid in 2023. Her collaborations with brands such as Lilien Berg, Bershka, and Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi showcase her versatility in blending art with contemporary culture.
- /Education
- /Solo Exhibition
- /Group Exhibition
- /Art Fairs
- /Recent Projects
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Education
Joshibi University of Art and Design in Tokyo - Majored in Nihonga
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Solo Exhibition
2023.
________'The Transformation of Desire' – Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain________'ITOMARISME: A Window to Spring' – Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain
2021. 'Could We Be Victims or Transmitters?' – ZEIT-FOTO Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan
2020. 'Mari Ito' – ZEIT-FOTO Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan
2019.
________'On Edge' – Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain________'The Garden of Desires in Contemporary Japan' – Torreón de Fortea, Zaragoza, Spain
________'Mari Ito: Barcelona 2009-2019' – Hakudohtei Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2018.
________'ITOMARISM KALEIDOSCOPE' – Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, New York, USA________'ITOMARISM' – Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
2017.
________'ITOMARISMO' – nap gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan________'ITOMARISME' – Artèria, Igualada, Spain
2016.
________'Mari Ito' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan________'Invisible' – nap gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
________'The Garden of Desires' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
2013. 'The Origin of Desire' – TK Galeria d'Art, Barcelona, Spain
2012.
________'Id - The Origin of Desire - Birth' – La Cerverina d'Art, Cervera, Spain________'Id - The Origin of Desire - Birth' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
________'Id - The Origin of Desire - Birth' – nap gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
________'Id - The Origin of Desire' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
2011. 'Id - From the Origin of Desire' – Vinart, Igualada, Spain
2009.
________'Id - Moving Towards the Circle' – Kannon Gyo & Wa Gallery, Barcelona, Spain________'Id - The Origin of Desire' – Sala d'art Hostalet 1701 Hotel, Girona, Spain
________'Id - The Origin of Desires' – Kannon Gyo & Wa Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2008. 'Mari Ito' – ZENBU Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
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Group Exhibition
2024.
________'MAITRI 2.0' – Galerie Geek Art, Art Mumbai, Mumbai, India________'CONFLUENCIAS' – Itinerant exhibition, Matadero de Huesca, Huesca
2023.
________'After the Fog, First Flowers' – Casa Vicens by Gaudí, Barcelona________'INVENTARIUM' – Palermo, Sicily, Italy
________'INVENTARIUM' – Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona
2022.
________'CONFLUENCIAS' – Itinerant exhibition, Juan Carbé Museum, Calaceite________'The Laughter of Flowers' – Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, Madrid
________'CONFLUENCIAS' – Itinerant exhibition, Torre de Doña Blanca, Albarracín
2021.
________'CONFLUENCIAS' – IAACC, Zaragoza, Spain________'SENSE OF WOMEN' – Mia Art Collection, ME Dubai Hotel, Dubai, UAE
2020.
________'TOKYO 2020 nap JAPAN' – nap gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan________'VIVIDOR' – Azumatei Project, Yokohama, Japan
2019.
________'DelicArTessen18' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain________'Merci Summer' – nap gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
2018. 'DelicArTessen17' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
2017. 'DelicArTessen16' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
2016. 'DelicArTessen1' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
2015.
________'UTOPIA' – Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, New York, USA________'Inter[canvi]' – Arteria, Igualada, Spain
________'DelicArTessen14' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
________'Dessin' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
________'Sensibilitat Tòquio' – La Cerverina d'Art, Cervera, Spain
________'Flowers' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
2014.
________'DelicArTessen13' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain________'Ulls D'Argos!' – La Cerverina d'Art, Cervera, Spain
________'Painting by Four' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
________'COVERED TOKYO 2014, Hikarie' – Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo, Japan
2013.
________'Green Flower Street' – Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey________'The Origin of Desire: Mari Ito and Mami Yamanaka' – Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
2012. 'Zeit Foto Collection' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
2011.
________'DelicArTessen10' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain________'Art and Adventure' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
________'The Fruits of Adventure' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Tokyo, Japan
2010. 'DelicArTessen9' – Galería Esther Montoriol, Barcelona, Spain
2009.
________'Via Art 09' – Shinwa Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan________'Asian Young Artists 4 – The World that Drips' – Keumsan Gallery Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
________'Jordi Serra's Japan' – Masia Museu Serra, Barcelona, Spain
2007.
________'Christmas Collection' – ZENBU Gallery, Barcelona, Spain________'Japanese Artists' – ZENBU Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
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Art Fairs
2024. 'Maitri 2.0' – Galerie Geek Art, Art Mumbai, Mumbai, India
2019.
________'Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn 2019' – Villa del Arte Galleries, London, UK________'Paper Position' – Micheko Gallery, Munich, Germany
________'Art Bodensee' – Villa del Arte Galleries, Bodensee, Austria
2018. 'Art Paris' – Jankossen Contemporary, Paris, France
2015. 'Aosando Art Fair' – Omotesando Hills, Tokyo, Japan
2014.
________'AHAF Hong Kong 2014' – ZEIT-FOTO SALON, Hong Kong________'Art Stage Singapore 2014' – Villa del Arte, Barcelona, Singapore
2013.
________'SCOPE Miami 2013' – Villa del Arte, Barcelona, Miami, USA________'Contemporary Istanbul' – Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
________'Art Toronto 2013' – Villa del Arte, Barcelona, Toronto, Canada
________'Affordable Art Fair New York' – Villa del Arte, Barcelona, New York, USA
________'SCOPE Basel 2013' – Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
2012.
________'Contemporary Istanbul' – Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey________'ArtNagoya 2012 Contemporary Art Fair' – The Westin Nagoya Castle, Nagoya, Japan
2010. 'AHAF 2010 HK' – Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Hong Kong
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Recent Projects
2020. 'Welcome Wall at La Casa dels Xuklis' – AFANOC, Barcelona
2018. 'Yukata Collaboration x Mari Ito' – Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
2017.
_____'Limited Edition Mari Ito Patches' – Bershka, Worldwide_____'Origin of Desire – Is It Spring?' – TMB Universitat Metro Station, Barcelona
Origin of desire: -I always wish for peace-, 2024
Wood panel, Japanese paper, pigment, sumi, nikawa glue
24.3 x 33cm
Origin of gift -, 2024
Wood panel, Japanese paper Oguni Washi, pigment, sumi, nikawa glue
35 x 35 cm
Origin of desire: -I always want to be your cutie honey-, 2024
Wood panel, Japanese paper, pigment, sumi, nikawa glue
27.3 x 22cm
Joy can last forever, depending on how you perceive it-, 2024
Wood panel, Japanese paper oguni washi, pigment, sumi, nikawa glue
180 x 240 cm(diptych)