KYUKARU SALON is proud to present the inaugural exhibition at its newly opened space in Karuizawa: Junko Koshino Art Exhibition “My Origin – Momentum”, on view from Saturday, July 19 through Thursday, August 28, 2025.

From her early student days aspiring to become a painter, Junko Koshino shifted into the world of fashion, where she went on to make her mark in fashion design, interior design, and stage production. Now, she returns to her original artistic expression—painting—bringing new creative energy to the canvas.

This marks Koshino’s first solo exhibition in Karuizawa. The exhibition will feature over 80 works, including newly created mixed-media paintings, three-dimensional works, and fashion illustrations.

Traces of Impulse and Intuition
Before thought, her hand moves. Before words, form takes shape. For more than half a century, Junko Koshino’s creative journey has always started with sensation—feeling first, then thinking. These works are traces of that raw, instinctual momentum. Unbound by convention and belonging to no specific category, her art opens up new possibilities for dialogue in today’s world.
—Comment by Yukiyuki Suzuki (JK Gallery)

Core Concept: “Contrasts in Harmony”
At the core of Koshino’s creative philosophy lies the concept of “Contrasts in Harmony”, first articulated in the early 1980s. Circles symbolize nature, the Earth, and the universe; squares represent man-made order and rationality. Her work juxtaposes these forms—light and shadow, white and black, curves and straight lines, East and West—finding a new beauty in the balanced tension between opposing elements.

The abstract paintings in this exhibition embody the essence of “Contrasts in Harmony,” refined through years of diverse experience. These pieces represent a crystallization of Koshino’s aesthetic sensibility, rooted in Japanese values and fueled by an ever-forward creative spirit.

About Junko Koshino
Junko Koshino is an internationally acclaimed designer who won the prestigious Soen Award at the youngest age in its history. She participated in Paris Fashion Week for 22 consecutive years starting in 1978, and has presented shows across the globe, including in Beijing, New York (Metropolitan Museum of Art), Vietnam, Cuba, Poland, and Myanmar.

Her extensive design work spans operas such as The Magic Flute and Madama Butterfly, Broadway musicals like Pacific Overtures (Tony Award-nominated), and costumes for the renowned Japanese drumming group DRUM TAO. She has also worked in sportswear, interior design, and even fireworks design.

Koshino has held various cultural roles including VISIT JAPAN Ambassador, Senior Advisor for the Japan World Expo Association, and committee member for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Japan Cultural Expo.” In 2017, she was named a Person of Cultural Merit. She received the French Légion d’honneur (Chevalier) in 2021 and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2022.

Exhibition Overview
Exhibition Title:
Junko Koshino Art Exhibition “My Origin – Momentum”

Dates:
July 19 (Sat) – August 28 (Thu), 2025
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Wednesdays)

Venue:
KYUKARU SALON, 1st & 2nd Floor Gallery Space
Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan

Organizers:
KYUKARU SALON, Takara Create Co., Ltd.
In Collaboration With:
JK Gallery, The Suka World Co., Ltd.