Artist / Ayano Tamuro
Ayano Tamuro graduated from the Department of Design at Osaka University of Arts and worked as a graphic designer at an advertising agency before transitioning to a freelance illustrator in 2017. She commenced her professional practice as an artist in 2020. Her work centers on the theme of serene spaces, weaving together memory, fantasy, and time spent with loved ones onto the canvas. Utilizing media such as oil paint, she depicts a warm and quiet worldview through a distinctive palette of vivid yet soft colors and textures. She is currently based in Osaka.
Her primary motifs are plants, animals, and interior scenes. Through her singular color sense, free brushwork, and carved textures, she constructs a unique world that exists in the liminal space between reality and imagination. Her animal subjects capture a raw vitality, while her interior paintings use carefully composed color schemes to comfortably immerse the viewer within the depicted space.
In recent years, cats have frequently appeared as subjects in her work. This shift was inspired not only by her admiration for the strength inherent in cats but also by her engagement with the contemporary social issue of cat protection and rescue. As part of this commitment, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her cat-themed works is donated to relevant animal protection and support organizations.
Education
2006 Osaka University of Arts, Department of Design – Graduated
Career History
2007 Joined an advertising agency, working as a Graphic Designer
2017 Began professional practice as a Freelance Illustrator
2020 Launched professional practice as an Artist
2024 – Present Works as a full-time artist based in Osaka
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025.12 “LAMP”, Touch Gallery, Hong Kong
2025.11 “Let Me Stay in the Room a Little Longer”, Empathy Gallery, Harajuku, Tokyo
2025.2 “Mahoroba of the Everyday”, Daimaru Umeda Store ART GALLERY UMEDA, Osaka
2024.10 “Calm time”, HB Gallery, Omotesando, Tokyo
2023.12 “The Power of Color”, Daimaru Umeda Store ART GALLERY UMEDA, Osaka
2022.3 “A Room with a Cat”, HB Gallery, Omotesando, Tokyo
Selected Group Exhibitions & Art Fairs
2026.5 Affordable Art Fair, Touch Gallery, Hong Kong
2025.4 Tagboat Art Fair 2025
2025.4 Selected Group Exhibition for Independent Tokyo 2024 (Note: Likely refers to the 2024 event)
2024.11 “Yes We Can” JK-G Art Competition Group Exhibition, BISUNJAE Gallery, Seoul
2024.8 Independent Tokyo 2024
2023.11 Metasequoia Art Fair 2023
2023.9 Daimaru Tokyo Group Exhibition “MIXTURE”
2023.9 ART HAKATA by tagboat
Awards
2024.8 Grand Prix, Independent Tokyo 2024
2024.11 Award Winner, JK-G Art Competition
2023.10 Akihiro Kondo Award, UNKNOWN ASIA 2023
2022.10 Kiyo Bank Award, HOMES Award, FESTIVAL CITY Award, Takashi Kobayashi Award, UNKNOWN ASIA 2022
2019.10 STYLEM Award, Takaharu Furutani Award, UNKNOWN ASIA 2019
2017.10 Award Winner, Seibundo Shinkosha “Illustration Note” Autumn Note Exhibition (Selected by Kazuo Otsuka)
Media Features
2024 Appearance on Nippon TV’s program “THE ART HOUSE”
2023 Featured in art magazine “365ART+”
2022 Featured on FM802 radio program “FMCOCOLOCIAO765”
Selected Commercial Collaborations
Morinaga Milk Industry (Lipton packaging design), UNIQLO, Mlesna Tea House, Kiyo Bank, Senshukai, FRAPBOIS, Classicom, Four Seasons Hotels, among others.
