Yusuke Ochiai, a self-taught painter and sculptor whose practice centers on self-exploration and dialogue with the external world. His work is rooted in a worldview influenced by polytheism and Japanese Shinto, where all things are believed to possess spirit. Through the personification of gods and energies, Ochiai seeks to express the sanctity of life and the multi-layered nature of existence.
During his fourteen years living in New York City, the textures of the urban environment, the energy of street art, and the accelerated rhythm of the city deeply shaped his process. His method of layering, scraping, and revealing paint evolved into a form of visual archaeology—tracing material and memory. Influences from Japanese animation, particularly Studio Ghibli and the philosophy of reincarnation, alongside classical performing arts, have become key anchors in his imaginative vocabulary.
At the core of his current work is POI—an abbreviation for Path of Imagination—a small three-dimensional form that is placed discreetly in urban environments. POI functions not as a message but as a trace: it is sometimes found, sometimes moved, subtly altering the layers of the city through its presence. It acts as a gesture rather than a statement—a question rather than an answer—emerging in the space between the artist, the viewer, and the city.
Ochiai’s practice now exists at the intersection of painting and sculpture, street and gallery, material and memory, visibility and absence. POI is not a character or symbol but an extension of the artist himself—a guide within the imaginative path he continues to walk.
Selected Group shows
“ LUMINE ART FAIR vol,3” at Lumine 0, Tokyo (2024) “ DIAF 2024, at Daegu, Korea (2024) “ HOLY FAME!” at Space 776, Lower east side, NYC (2023)
” Japanese and Korean artist” at Rockefeller center, NYC (2023)
” Pop & Street” at Seibu Shibuya, Tokyo (2021, 2022)
” Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary”, Miami (2020)
” Mural paint project”at Miami Design District (Dacra), Miami (2019)
” Art Miami”, Miami (2019, 2020)
” Jart 7th” & ” Jart 8th”at WHA center, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (2017, 2018)
” Sakura pour TOHOKU” in Ebisu, Tokyo (2014)
” Bushwick Open studios” in Morgan, Brooklyn (2014~2023)
” TEE” at Reso box, Long Lsland City, Queens (2013)
” Street Spiritual” at Tokyo Creators, Tokyo (2013)
” Over the reflection” at Noho 55, Long Lsland City, Queens (2012)
Solo shows
“ Path Of Imagination” at Space 776, Lower east side, NYC (2024)
“ Messenger of Love” at Onishi Gallery, Chelsea, NYC(2017)
Portfolio PDF
Email: poieverywhere@gmail.com