Perrotin Heads West

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Izumi Kato was born in the land of the gods. Located approximately one hour by plane from Tokyo—where the artist’s studio resides—the Shimane Prefecture, home of the Shinto god Ōkuninushi and one of Japan’s holiest shrines, is a bastion of mythology. For Kato, a contemporary painter and sculptor, this coastal prefecture is also a source of inspiration for the artist’s latest solo exhibition inaugurating Perrotin’s new space in Los Angeles.

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On view until March 23, 2024, the Tokyo-made paintings and sculptures featured in Kato’s eponymous exhibition blend in seamlessly with its West Coast surroundings. The tranquil dichotomies found in Kato’s work are also prevalent throughout the city itself and the artist’s Japanese roots can find a home in Southern California, as Los Angeles is widely cited as having the largest population of Japanese nationals outside of Japan. It is because of these parallels, and more, that Kato’s art is an apt choice for the opening of the gallery’s new location, which expands Perrotin’s global reach by adding Los Angeles to its existing spaces in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

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Nestled on West Pico Boulevard, and within walking distance from The Floating Gallery, Kato’s works explore the binaries of ancient and modern, geological and man-made, evoking a sense of serene discomfort with his figurative, not-quite-human figures with protruding eyes and unsmiling mouths. Although Kato attended Tokyo’s prestigious Musashino Art University, he relies heavily on a self-taught and distinctive approach to technique and materials, with some of his sculptures constructed out of stone, cast aluminum, and fabric. One untitled work exhibited—a monumental figure made up of pastel, acrylic, embroidery, and leather on fabric—measures over 17 feet tall and hangs from the bow truss of Perrotin’s new space like a mystifying presence with its oblong blue face, flesh-like chest, and black legs.

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In addition, visitors to the inaugural exhibition are encouraged to construct their artistic creations by purchasing a plastic model kit inspired by Kato’s own memories of toy models, prompting them to not only reckon with their strangeness but also hold it in their hands.

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‍“Izumi Kato” is on view until March 23, 2024 at Perrotin Los Angeles at 5036-5040 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019.