Aka Okumura
Exhibited Artist
Born in 1992, Aka Okumura is a self-taught artist based in Kyoto, Japan. She began painting in 2015 and has been actively exhibiting her work in both domestic and international galleries since 2016. Her vivid compositions are immediately recognizable by their use of jet-black backgrounds — symbolizing the omnipresence of death — and bold, colorful imagery that pulses with life. At the center of many of her works stands a girl, a recurring icon who serves as a mediator between the worlds of life and death.
Aka’s art is deeply rooted in the dualities of existence: light and shadow, innocence and mortality, creation and destruction. With a distinctive visual language that merges whimsy with weight, she explores humanity’s often-fragile relationship with nature, reflecting both admiration for its beauty and a deep concern over its degradation.
In recent years, her practice has expanded to capture the grandeur and vulnerability of the natural world. Her characters — often fantastical yet emotionally resonant — inhabit dreamlike realms that hint at both ecological urgency and spiritual continuity. The works are at once playful and profound, inviting viewers to reflect on their place within an ever-changing, interconnected world.
