He was born in Tokyo.
Influenced by his grandfather who was a painter, his father who was a sculptor, and his mother who was a painting instructor, he began painting from a young age.
As a teenager, he was a member of the Tokyo Arakawa Children's Choir led by the late Akimaro Watanabe, where he was exposed to high-quality arts both in Japan and abroad.
At Joshibi University of Art and Design and graduate school, she majored in Western painting.
After graduation, he trained the next generation at public junior high schools and art classes.
He was also an icon painter who visited Japan during the restoration of the Tokyo Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai Hall), a nationally designated Important Cultural Property
He has experience as an assistant to Ms. Valentina Glazovskaya and is the spouse of a parish priest of the Japanese Orthodox Church.
He is active as an art creator and educator.
WORKS Works
INTERVIEWInterview
Wakayo Masuda
Please tell us about your background so far.
My grandfather was a painter, my parents also worked in art, and my family grew up in an environment where I had to paint from a young age, running an art school. Upon entering university, I entered Joshibi University of Art and Design, and in graduate school, I honed my expertise in painting with the aim of becoming a professional.
Afterwards, while working as an art teacher at a junior high school and an art class instructor, raised two children, and now supports her husband, who is a clergyman, she creates works while facing herself, singing hymns, and facing life at funerals, among other various family church work.
What kind of expression are you currently working on?
When I was attending art university, I painted a wide range of paintings, including oil paintings, portraits, and a mix of abstract and figurative paintings. Currently, I mainly focus on abstract painting and am also exploring other expressive techniques. My area of expertise isn't exactly defined yet, so I think I'll notice and discover it as I draw. There is no answer to this, nor is it something forced by anyone, so I want to continue freely exploring based on my instincts and the insights I gain in daily life. Currently, I have a desire to paint abstract art, so I respect that.
Also, in everyday life, ideas for paintings often come from talking with someone, interacting with family, or taking walks. From there, various thoughts and words emerge, expanding the image as I paint.
Have you ever felt conflicted while painting?
When I look at the drawings I drew as a child, I often see comments from my mother, and looking at them brings back memories of those days. I think girls have periods when they want to draw freely, but because my family members were professional artists, there were many restrictions in some areas. It feels like you need to draw it more properly.
Actually, there was a time when I was a bit annoyed by being told about this every time. I've only recently realized that drawing freely, like doodling, and enjoying that kind of drawing might be very necessary during my growth. And I wonder if this feeling became a reaction or led me to start creating abstract art now as an adult.
What do you value most in your art creation?
I believe that art creation gives viewers the opportunity to imagine through paintings, so I insist on the perspective that works belong to the viewer. If the viewer thinks it's A, it's A; if they think it's B, it's B. I believe the role of painters is to provide the viewer with space and opportunities for free imagination. Since abstract paintings have intangible substances, I capture those invisible things that come from somewhere and present them through my own medium. I believe this is what it means to be an artist in terms of culture and artists, so I cherish this style.
The person who influenced this way of thinking was Andrew Wyeth from America, a painter I've admired since childhood. Although he paints figurative paintings, he claims to be abstract, and I was drawn to his abstract perspective, which is built on his high technical skill. Paintings drawn solely by feeling are not highly appreciated, and I pay respect to painters who are built on academic foundations. I believe it is important for art to properly master the basics, and to have a solid foundation before breaking down and creating originality.
Has your approach to the work changed since your student days and now?
The works I have put the most effort into so far are for my senior year graduation project and during graduate school. The environment was well established and the technical aspects were solid. Looking back now, I feel my life experience was shallow and my character was shallow. Meanwhile, I currently paint SM-sized pieces almost every day. Each piece is like a personal record that can only be drawn at that moment, so I believe each piece expresses who I am at that moment, true to myself. It's more like a projection of the mind than a painting.
"Bright"
Author: Wakayo Masuda
What are the moments when you feel joy through creation?
I don't feel much joy or delight from participating in competitions or winning good awards. I inevitably have to be conscious of the judges' eyes in such cases, and I can't accept it myself. Through the paintings I naturally draw, even a small group of people are always watching it—that is the greatest joy. I'm very happy and happy to have people come to the exhibition and to receive messages on Instagram where I share my paintings.
Please tell us about your future outlook.
We plan to exhibit in Hong Kong this August, and in the future, we are exploring European markets as well, with an eye on overseas markets. Currently, I believe I can continue my art career without strain, so I hope to keep this situation where my paintings reach people who need them for a long time. So, honestly, I don't have any greedy desire to do this or that.
Taking care of your health, allowing this everyday life to continue indefinitely, and to spend a long life painting your true self—that is the ideal state you want most. Also, I really enjoy teaching art to children right now, so I hope to teach at a specialized institution like a university someday.
Wakayo Masuda says that the greatest joy is reaching people who need her paintings, rather than winning competitions. Starting with her exhibition in Hong Kong and exploring expansion into Europe, she says that the most ideal image is to take care of her health, continue this daily life, and spend her life painting her own way. Expectations are high for her future path.
EXHIBITIONS Exhibition Information
2025.09.20 - 2025.09.20
Workshops & Mini Solo Exhibitions
We will hold a workshop to draw a picture related to the moon
2026.05.27 - 2026.06.08
The 82nd In-Person Exhibition
I exhibited at the current exhibition held at The National Art Center, Tokyo
F40 'Ziyu'
2026.08.05 - 2026.08.12
14th Tokyo Gen Exhibition
This is the Tokyo Exhibition of the Tokyo branch of the current exhibition.
2026.08.21 - 2026.08.26
2nd World Peace Art Exhibition
This exhibition aims to introduce contemporary artists and encourage reflection on peace
2025.02.25 - 2025.02.27
Wakayo Masuda Contemporary Art Workshop & Exhibition
2024.11.04 - 2024.11.09
Bound 2024
2024.09.16 - 2024.09.29
The Art Fes. Season finale 2024
2024.08.08 - 2024.08.13
CROSS OVER
2024.02.13 - 2024.02.18
Pair forms by contemporary artists
2024.02.01 - 2024.02.29
WINTER2024-桝田若代solo exhibition-
Mixed Media Artist Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design Many Group Exhibitions Art Lecturer Japan Bridge Art.jp Writer
2023.12.04 - 2023.12.09
Spectrum I 2023
2026.04.16 - 2026.04.30
桝田若代Online Solo Exhibition Mental Scenery
I mainly work with abstract paintings. This year, almost every day, I have been drawing my feelings of the day with acrylic paints and collages on a small-sized canvas like a picture diary. At first, I thought I was writing about my inner self, but gradually I felt such a pleasant illusion that colors and shapes came out freely through my medium.
I went back to my childhood and drew as my heart commanded without thinking as hard as possible. "Paintings belong to the viewer, not the person who draws them." I believe that painting production is to provide the viewer with the pleasure of imagining.
There is no answer, so I would be happy if you could freely expand your image from the work and enjoy it. Also, expressing what I get through intuition with color and shape is the basis of my work. The work itself does not strongly assert itself, but aims to be an abstract painting that blends into the space of the place and is preferred as an interior design that can adjust the air.
2023.08.28 - 2023.09.02
GALLERY ART POINT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Yuka Omura, Yurie Kakutani, Marina Seguchi, Tsubaki, Nagisa Nojiri, Erika Hoshi, Asuka Masuda, Wakayo Masuda, Hitoshi Yagi
2023.06.01 - 2023.06.30
WAKAYO MASUDA Solo exhibition
Kafu &�� & Horu with Yu
Wakayo Masuda
Mixed Media Artist Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design Many Group Exhibitions Art Lecturer
2022.12.24 - 2022.12.25
Group Exhibition "Life with Pictures" vol.22
Arte de aco group exhibition
Please feel free to come and visit us to enjoy encounters with diverse art and people. We look forward to your visit.
1day 13:30-18:00 (last entry at 17:30)
2day 11:30-16:30 (last entry at 16:00)
*Free admission