Shinya Azuma
(Not) Samurai (Not) Cowboy
August 22 - September 26, 2026
Galleri Urbane is thrilled to welcome Japanese artist Shinya Azuma to Texas for an upcoming residency at the Augustus Owen Foundation following with a solo exhibition ‘(Not ) Samurai (Not) Cowboy’. This marks the artist’s first solo show with the gallery, in partnership with Cohju Gallery based in Kyoto, Japan.
Azuma’s paintings center on the human figure, depicting moments of vulnerability, hesitation, and quiet psychological tension. Through vivid color fields and simplified compositions, he portrays individuals caught in unguarded and often awkward situations. Rather than heroic figures, his subjects embody a contemporary condition shaped by uncertainty and self-awareness. Balancing humor and discomfort, Azuma’s works reflect a generation navigating a world where traditional ideals of success and certainty have gradually lost their force.
Style Wars, 2026
Oil on canvas
50 × 42 inches
Shinya Azuma in his Kyoto Studio
“It is characterized by a style that projects current affairs and everyday events, sometimes to oneself and animals, and puts a cynical message in a genuine motif. The characters who appear in the work are sometimes comical, sloppety, and somewhat charming. It also feels like it reflects the desire, renunciation, weakness, and selphism that lurk in ourselves.”
Installed exhibition views:
Fresh off a successful showing at Art Basel Hong Kong—and the launch of his new monograph and solo show that opened July in Tokyo—Shinya is bringing his vision to the Lone Star State. Shinya’s work is deeply inspired by his immediate surroundings, as well as current political and social climates. Coming right off the energy of the recent World Cup games, it will be fascinating to see how he interprets his environment here.
Watch:
Francis Chung discusses with Shinya prior to the opening of (Not) Samurai (Not) Cowboy
American Style, 2026
Oil on canvas
30×40 inches
Anticlimax, 2026
Oil on canvas
30 × 26 inches
‘First Selection: Shinya Azuma’
Published by Mitsumura Suiko School, this Monograph is the first from Azuma, featuring 82 paintings and wood carvings. At first glance, Shinya Azuma’s works exude a gentle and endearing charm. The artist himself says he wants to depict "human beings, including his own sloppiness, living in this era.”
"First Selection" is a series of art books that introduce one artist per book, featuring carefully selected visuals of their work and accompanying text to help readers deeply understand their art. The word "First" evokes a fresh image, and the meaning of "first-class" or "unrivaled" is combined with the desire to create books that will serve as a springboard for the further success of young artists. We aim to create the best possible encounter between readers and artists.
Shinya Azuma (b. 1994, Osaka, Japan) is a Kyoto-based painter working in oil on canvas, represented by Cohju Gallery. He holds an MFA in Contemporary Art from Kyoto University of the Arts (formerly Kyoto University of Art and Design) and has exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Hong Kong, Untitled Art Miami, and Sydney Contemporary. His work is held in notable collections including the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection, the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, sequence MIYASHITA PARK, and the Bao Room. Azuma recently completed a residency with the Augustus Owen Foundation in Dallas, leading into his first solo exhibition at Galleri Urbane.