Kaori Someya, Pictures of Seasonal Changes in Dress (left screen), 2026, pair of two-panel folding screens: gold leaf, silver leaf, mineral pigments, dye, washi paper, and animal glue, H70 7/8 x W141 3/4 x D3/4 in. overall (H180 x W360 x D2 cm overall). Photo: Copyright The Artist

Kaori Someya: The Light Within
September 10 – October 17, 2026
Opening Reception with Artist: Thursday, Sept 10, 5-8pm (kindly RSVP)
Artist Talk: Saturday, Sept 12, 1:30-3pm (kindly RSVP)
35 N Moore Street, NYC

On the occasion of Autumn Asia Week New York, Ippodo Gallery is pleased to present Kaori Someya: The Light Within, the Nihonga painter’s debut solo exhibition, on view from September 10 through October 17, 2026.

Someya’s paintings apply the thousand-year-old technique of urahaku, or the backing of transparent washi paper with gold and platinum leaf, instilling her paintings with an inner radiance. Someya uses the traditional medium of Nihonga as a way to explore the complex existence of women in contemporary Japanese society, depicting female figures in vibrantly patterned traditional kimono, their expressions caught between serenity and resignation. In doing so, Someya works to explore the tension women face between external societal pressures and the internal desire to preserve one’s beliefs and identity.

Someya’s themes of impermanence, memory, transformation, and the eternal shifting dance of light are expressed as changing seasons and unfixed shadows. Vibrantly patterned kimono tell hidden stories of the characters. Kimono patterns derived from her late mother’s handwork recur as depictions of “life backgrounds” — interior worlds made visible. Employing ijidōzuhō, the classical Japanese technique of rendering multiple moments within a single continuous scene, she imbues intense emotion—grief and renewal— into sweeping still images.

They are delighted to welcome Kaori Someya to New York to celebrate her debut solo exhibition at the gallery. In addition to joining the opening reception on September 10, Someya will give a special artist talk that Saturday, offering insights into her Nihonga painting process and her exploration of themes of gender and society. They look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition and sharing this special presentation of Someya’s luminous work with you during Autumn Asia Week New York!

To RSVP to the reception, click here and to RSVP to the artist talk, click here.

To learn more, click here.