Article by Madeline Gray
With an artistic approach that seems to gracefully leap off the page, the legacy of painter Hiromitsu Kato will continue to live on at the Agora Gallery for an exhibition of his piece entitled “The Autumn Light.”
Kato’s latest work, “The Autumn Light,” captures the beauty of autumn leaves as they represent recovery and rebirth in Japanese culture. The artist’s inspiration for the painting came from his prayer for Japan’s recovery from the earthquake and tsunami tragedies in March 2011.
The late Japanese artist — born in 1957 — gained global recognition for his innovative style and outstanding pieces. Kato utilized materials originating from his home country, like Japanese ink, gold, and iwa-enogu mineral pigments made from pulverized rock particles. Kato’s use of these traditional painting techniques led him to craft a 3D style all his own.
With the help of his international promoter Yohei Suzuki, Kato’s paintings have been featured internationally at art fairs in Korea, France and Monaco among other popular destinations. Shortly before his passing three years ago, Kato’s work was seen and greatly admired by many patrons at his solo gallery as part of the Semana Cultural del Japon, a cultural exhibit, organized by the Universidad de Salamanca.
Kato was known for his dedication to his art, often foregoing sleep or sustenance to perfect his paintings. Kato was said to have been drawn to painting because he could connect with “one-time-only” moments of bliss by capturing them on paper. He consistently worked on his art to depict the beauty of nature. He would be moved by his emotions when he witnessed the divine purity of the clouds in the sky or the plants on the ground. He consistently worked to create an earthly masterpiece that God would admire.
Hitomitsu Kato passed away on April 10, 2019, his wife’s birthday, while working on a painting at his studio. His hope was and will continue to be, to spread happiness and prosperity to all, through his art.
“The Autumn Light” was on display from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30 at the Agora Gallery located at 530 W. 25th St. New York, NY as part of the 36th Chelsea International Fine Arts Competition. The exhibit’s opening reception took place on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.
For more information about the gallery and Hiromitsu Kato’s artwork, visit the Agora Gallery website. Learn more about Kato and his extensive art career here.
