Bio

Toshiaki Shibuya was born in Kanagawa, Japan in 1964. He dreamed of becoming a cartoonist when he was only three, he grew up to become a graphics designer and painter. He attended Tokai University where he graduated with a degree in product design. He then worked briefly as an architectural designer before starting a career in graphic design.

His first exhibited his paintings "Flammable" series in 1994 at a group exhibition in Yokohama, Japan where he has shown his work annually, ever since.

In 2004, He had the first solo exhibition "from Toshi's Portfolio" in Tokyo, Japan and Toshi exhibited his paintings in The Melbourne Affordable Art Show by Mayumi International. Since then, he started his career as an artist in Australia, too.

Toshiaki Shibuya

DoB: 1964 Aug 15
Sign: Leo
Blood Type: AB

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Why red?

I'm often asked by many people that have seen my paintings, why I paint in red. I don't know why. I like bluish green/greenish blue myself and I usually wear gray or blue clothing. I rarely wear red. So, why do I paint red?

I think red makes women beautiful, passionate, attractive and sexy. Before I started to paint portraits of women in red, I painted portraits using many different colors. I have tried to paint portraits using blue but I wasn’t satisfied with it.

When I look back, there are some memories of red in my life. The most impressive memory is the movie "The Woman in Red" I just happened to turn on the TV one night in my early 20's. I remember a woman in a red dress was walking on a street and the main actor was staring at her in the movie. I caught myself staring at her, too. This is the only scene that I can remember, nothing else.
This experience of red has not affected me for years. Now I paint women in red without realizing it.

To write this comment, I had to watch "The Woman in Red" again. However, I couldn't find the exact scene that drove me to start painting portraits of women in red. The scene that turned out to be the greatest impact on my life was not there. I still have a clear picture of the woman walking on the street from right to left and her red dress was swaying like a flame in the wind.
What was I seeing that night?

Comments & Articles (Thank you!)

Toshi salutes the beauty of the female body in all works.The venusian quality is further enhanced by his use of light interspersed with the passion of red, this presenting the viewer with the duality of creativity, the essence of woman, and the movement of life.A dynamic, thoughtfnd enlightened artist whose work truly speaks to us through its expression.

by Josephine Davis, Art Critic, Australia

The women are dancing off of the canvas in a way, almost alive. His exhibition at CoZmo's Cafe was a great experience to have his paintings come alive in the red light atmosphere of the cafe. In combination with live music and dance shows at the cafe, Toshi's paintings completed the circle of creativity I was searching for.Its nice to know that a man such as Toshi has such sensitive expression and respect for women in his work.

by Ronna Wagenheim, Owner of CoZmo's Cafe & Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

History

"Art Collection 2008" @ Collingwood Gallery in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Oct 2008

"Art Brisbane 2008" @ Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Queensland, Australia - May 2008

"Art Melbourne 2008" @ Royal Exhibition Building in Victoria, Australia - Apr 2008

Special exhibit @ Consulate General of Japan in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Mar 2008

"AI - Perspectives on LOVE" @ Collingwood Gallery in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Oct 2007

"ART MELBOURNE 07" @ Royal Exhibition Building in Victoria, Australia - Apr 2007

"Art Collection 2006" @ Collingwood Gallery in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Jun 2006

"ART MELBOURNE 06" @ Royal Exhibition Building in Victoria, Australia - Apr 2006

"ART SYDNEY 05" @ RHI & Hordern Pavilion in New South Wales, Australia - Aug 2005

"MELBOURNE AFFORDABLE ART SHOW 05" @ Royal Exhibition Building in Victoria, Australia - Apr 2005

"from TOSHI's Portfolio" (Private Exhibition) @ CoZmo'S Cafe in Tokyo, Japan - Sep 2004

"from TOSHI's Portfolio" (Private Exhibition) @ CoZmo'S Cafe in Tokyo, Japan - Jul 2004

"MELBOURNE AFFORDABLE ART SHOW 04" @ Royal Exhibition Building in Victoria, Australia - Apr 2004

Design Festa vol.19 @ Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan - May 2004

"Flammable - Decade" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Dec 2003

"Flammable 03" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Feb 2003

Design Festa vol.16 @ Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan - Nov 2002

"Flammable 02" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Jun 2002

"Flammable - Anybody Seen My Baby?" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Feb 2002

"Merry XXXmas" @ The 1st Square, The Yokohama Diamond Chikagai (Underground Mall) in Kanagawa, Japan - Dec 2001

"Francesca" @ Gallary La Mer in Tokyo, Japan - Sep 2001

"Red Influence (Woman in Red)" @ The 1st Square, The Diamond Chikagai (Underground Mall) in Kanagawa, Japan - Feb 2001

"Flammable - Jump, Back & Good Start" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Nov 2000

"Flammable Complex Lines" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Jun 2000

"Flammable 99 - Curves without a Shred of Clothing on" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Jun 1999

"Flammable 98" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Jun 1998

"Flammable 97" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - Jun 1997

"Flammable" in "For Five" (Group Exhibit.) @ Yokohama Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa, Japan - May 1994

Special Thanks (People & things that made my art cells.)