matsuiBECOMING

● Exhibition Overview

Dates: May 9 (Sat) – May 24 (Sun), 2026 (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
This exhibition has ended.
You can continue to purchase works at our online shop.
Online shop: https://shop.pao.kyoto.jp

Artist Attendance Schedule

– May 9 (Sat)
– May 24 (Sun)
*The schedule is subject to change.
*Please check the artist’s social media for the latest information.

● Artist’s Statement

In this exhibition, I will present a new series that inherits the image of the matsui DOGS I have created so far, while paring it down to the most minimal form possible.

While they are dogs, they are at the same time like lines, sticks, or symbols. They are an attempt to explore the ambiguous balance between intimacy and abstraction, between image and object.

Keeping in mind an existence that cannot be fully reduced to the “cuteness” of a character, I created these as a practice to embrace the multiple directions within myself regarding matsui DOGS in parallel.

Furthermore, at the venue, PAO Makers Gallery, I have been specially allowed to hold the exhibition in a “pre-construction” state.

In this gallery space, which has a unique history as a former colored paper factory, I hope you will be able to see how both the works and the space mingle while remaining in a state of “BECOMING.”

matsui

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1996, now based in Gifu Prefecture. Illustrator.
After graduating from Nagoya University of Art and Sciences, began a career as a designer.
Became independent as an illustrator in 2022. Starting with a first solo exhibition that same year, has held solo exhibitions and events in various locations.
Focusing on dog motifs, creates artwork with thick, relaxed lines and clear colors, and has been involved in collaborations with various domestic and international brands.

@matsui9988