YU WATANABE
WORKSWorks
PROFILEYu Watanabe
BIOGRAPHYBiography
2025Restarted as flow Yamagen
2023Renovated a 115-year-old house
2012–Founded WATANABE TATEGUTEN / design and illustration / natural farming
2010–12Art teacher at a special needs school (school for the deaf) in southern Vietnam as a JICA volunteer
2008–10Worked as an animation and installation artist
2008M.F.A. in Oil Painting, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts
2006Exchange student, Faculty of Art and Design, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
EDUCATIONEducation
2008MFA — Tokyo University of the Arts
2005–06Exchange student — Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany
2005BA — Tokyo University of the Arts
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGSSolo and group exhibitions
2026Yuiko & Yu en CASUCA "Meguri Tsunagaru Saki no Koto", Tokyo
2025Original artwork exhibition, YANEURA glass, Shiga
2023Original artwork exhibition, Hie Shrine hall of worship, Shiga
2010CAN’T GO ON LIKE THIS!, Map Office, Hong Kong
Memorandum, ArtJamContemporary, Tokyo
Memorandum, ArtJamContemporary, Tokyo
2009Asian Performing Arts Festival 2009, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo
hybrid, Art Center Ongoing, Tokyo
ULTRA002 Emerging Directors’ Art Fair, SPIRAL, Tokyo
PING PONG CRITIC, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto
CIGE2009 — China International Gallery Exposition, Beijing
pai and H.C.F., Otto Mainzheim Gallery, Tokyo
Japan Media Arts Festival, The National Art Center, Tokyo
hybrid, Art Center Ongoing, Tokyo
ULTRA002 Emerging Directors’ Art Fair, SPIRAL, Tokyo
PING PONG CRITIC, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto
CIGE2009 — China International Gallery Exposition, Beijing
pai and H.C.F., Otto Mainzheim Gallery, Tokyo
Japan Media Arts Festival, The National Art Center, Tokyo
2008Girls’ Zone 3, ArtJamContemporary, Tokyo
debut! ver. Yu EBIHARA solo exhibition, Tanikado Art, Tokyo
DUFFER × Yu Ebihara, The Duffer of St. George, Tokyo
Yokohama Art & Home, Yokohama
ART AWARD TOKYO 2008, Tokyo
debut! ver. Yu EBIHARA solo exhibition, Tanikado Art, Tokyo
DUFFER × Yu Ebihara, The Duffer of St. George, Tokyo
Yokohama Art & Home, Yokohama
ART AWARD TOKYO 2008, Tokyo
2007Nichibotsu kara Hajimaru koto, Nagano
Sustainable Art Project 2007 -Koto no Ba-, Tokyo
Sustainable Art Project 2007 -Koto no Ba-, Tokyo
2006Parking Lot Art Show Fort, Weimar, Germany
2005Space -8:22 Art Collective, Weimar, Germany
Sustainable Art Project 2005 -Koto no Tsutae-, Tokyo
Shika Panda, Nara
Moving Pictures, Tokyo
Sustainable Art Project 2005 -Koto no Tsutae-, Tokyo
Shika Panda, Nara
Moving Pictures, Tokyo
AWARDSAwards
2009Japan Media Arts Festival, Encouragement Prize
2005Mr. O Memorial Prize / Mr. O Memorial Prize Committee, Tokyo University of the Arts
WORK EXPERIENCECareer
2004–07Kaichi Comprehensive School — Teaching art for children ages 6–10
2007–08Core-Japan — Image editing, logo & graphic design, illustration, copywriting
2009Plaza Create — Image editing, postcard design, illustration
Cyber Oz Net — Illustration (freelance)
Cyber Oz Net — Illustration (freelance)
2010–12Disabled children’s school, Ca Mau, Vietnam — Teaching art for deaf students ages 7–22 as JOCV
CONTACTCommissions and inquiries
Commission requests, questions about works and original art, atelier visits, and more
Feel free to get in touch