Mari Ito

1980, Tokyo, Japan.

In her work, Mari Ito explores the theme of ‘desire’. She has, in fact, always been drawn to the Freudian theory of the human psyche and the three entities cohabiting our psyche: TheId, the Ego and the Superego. Of these three, the artist reflects on the first —the Id, the most pure and primitive – as the source of our desires and their consequences.Contrary to Western culture, Japanese society frowns upon the outward expression of certain opinions and emotions, particularly in public spaces. This in turn heightens interest in her work, as Ito’s pieces transmit and communicate some of these thoughts and feelings, therefore alleviating the need for them to be said out loud. After all, words can be truly complex in Japanese society.

New Artwork

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo – Buen Rollo II –

2023
100 x 100 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo – Buen Rollo I –

2023
100 x 100 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo – Ritmo Del Despertar –

2023
80 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo -Quiero Estar En Paz-

2023
73 x 60 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

La Transformación Del Deseo – Explosión Del Apetito –

2023
130 x 97 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

La Transformación Del Deseo – Quiero Estar Dentro De Alegría-

2023
116 x 89 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

La Transformación Del Deseo – Estoy Dentro De Alegría-

2023
116 x 89 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo – Estoy Dentro De Alegría-

2023
116 x 89 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo – Quiero Estar Dentro De Alegría-

2023
116 x 89 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo -La Motivación Desbordante Se Está Fundiendo-

2023
116 x 91 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Origen Del Deseo -La Motivación Desbordante-

2023
116 x 89 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Transformación Del Deseo – Alegría II –

2023
146 x 228 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Transformación Del Deseo – Alegría I –

2023
146 x 228 cm

Painting

Mari Ito

Canción Para Un Útero Difunto

2023
162 x 390 cm

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Natural Y Antinatural – La Playa Donde Me Confronto –

2023
100 x 133.33 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Autotransformación – En ITOMARISMO –

2023
54.2 x 150 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Natural Y Antinatural – El Bosque Donde Me Confronto –

2023
25 x 32.5 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Natural Y Antinatural – La Basura Y Yo –

2023
25 x 24.3 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Autotransformación – En Jardín De Casa Vicenç –

2023
25 x 32.7 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Natural Y Antinatural – Los Cactus Y Yo –

2023
25 x 33.3 cm

Photography

Mari Ito x Toni Mateu

Natural Y Antinatural – Observando Mi Siesta –

2023
25 x 17 cm

Mari Ito

Mari Ito has lived in Barcelona since 2006, when she first made her mark on the international contemporary art scene, participating in both solo and group exhibitions, first in her country of origin and later in the Catalan capital and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in Basel, Istanbul and New York. Her latest notable exhibitions have taken place at Gaudi’s Casa Vicenç in Barcelona and at the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid. She has participated in art fairs in Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, Miami, Tokyo, and most recently she has been a highlighted artist at the stand of the Fundación Amigos Museo Reina Sofía at ARCO Madrid (2023). The artist has also collaborated with brands such as Lilien Berg (2016), Bershka (2017), Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) at Universitat de Barcelona metro station (2017) and Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi (2018).

See all available Artworks

References to classic Japanese patterns used in kimono designs and other items as well as the floral art of ikebana are central to her works.

References to classic Japanese patterns used in kimono designs and other items as well as the floral art of ikebana are central to her works.

Solo Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions
Collaborations
Art Fairs

Solo Exhibitions

2023

  • ITOMARISME Una finestra a la primavera, Villa del Arte Galleries, (Barcelona, Spain).

2021

  • ¿Podríamos ser somos víctimas o transmisores?, Zeit Foto Kunitachi. (Tokyo, Japan).

2020

  • Mari Ito, Zeit Foto Kunitachi. (Tokio, Japón).

2019

  • A flor del piel, Villa del Arte Galleries, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • El jardín de los deseos del Japón contemporáneo, (Zaragoza, Spain)
  • Mari Ito Barcelona 2009-2019, Hakudohtei Gallery, (Tokyo, Japan).

2018

  • Itomarism Kaleidoscope, Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, (Nueva York, USA)
  • Itomarismo, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Art Square, (Tokyo, Japan).

2017

  • Itomarismo, Nap Galley 3331 Arts Chiyoda, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • Itomarisme, Artèria, (Igualada, Spain).

2016

  • Mari Ito, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).

2014

  • Invisible, Nap Gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • The garden of desire, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).

2013

  • El origen del deseo, Tatiana Kourochkina Galeria d’Art, (Barcelona, Spain).

2012

  • Id – El origen del deseo – nacimiento, La Cerverina d´Art, (Cervera, Spain).
  • Id – El origen del deseo – nacimiento, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • The origin of desire – the emergence, Nap Gallery 3331 Arts Chiyoda, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • The origin of a desire, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).

2011

  • Id – De l’origen del desig, Vinart, (Igualada, Spain).

2009

  • Id – en movimiento hacia el círculo, Kannon Gyo & Wa Gallery, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • Id – El origen del deseo, Sala d’art Hostalet 1701 Hotel, (Girona, Spain)
  • Id – el origen de los deseos, Kannon Gyo & Wa Gallery, (Barcelona, Spain).

2008

  • Mari Ito, Zenbu Gallery, (Barcelona, Spain).

Group Exhibitions

2023

  • Después de la niebla primeras flores, Casa Vicenç de Gaudi, (Barcelona, Spain).

2022

  • Mitsukoshi Art Week, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • La risa de las flores, Real Jardín Botánico. (Madrid, Spain).
  • Confluencia, exposición itinerante, Torre De Doña Blanca, (Albarracín, Spain).

2021

  • Sence of Women, MIA art collection, Me Dubái hotel, (Dubai, UAE).
  • Confluencia, IAACC Pablo Serrano, (Zaragoza, Spain).

2019

  • Villa del Arte Galleries, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • Villa del Arte Galleries, (Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

2018

  • DelicArTessen17, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • The 7th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Nihonga Award, Ueno Royal Museum, (Tokyo, Japan).

2017

  • DelicArTessen16, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • DelicArTessen15, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).

2016

  • DelicArTessen15, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain). 

2015

  • UTOPIA, Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, (New York, USA).
  • Inter[canvi], Arteria, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • DelicARTessen14, Galeria Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • Dessins, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • Sensibilitat Toquio, La Cerverina d´Art, (Cervera, Spain).
  • Flors, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).

2014

  • DelicArTessen13, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • Ulls D’ Argos!, La Cerverina d´Art, (Cervera, Spain).
  • Painting by four, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • Covered Tokyo: Hikarie, Shibuya Hicarie, (Tokyo, Japan).

2013

  • Green Flower Street, Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, (Istanbul, Turkey).
  • The Origin of Desire Mari Ito and Mami Yamanaka, Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, (Basilea, Switzerland).

2012

  • Zeit Foto Collection, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).

2011

  • DelicARTessen10, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • The fruits of Adventures, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • Art in Adventure, Zeit Foto Salon, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • DelicARTessen9, Galería Esther Montoriol, (Barcelona, Spain).

2009

  • Via art 09, Shinwa Art Museum, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • Asian Young Artists 4 – The world that drips, Keumsan Gallery, (Tokyo, Japan).
  • El japó de Jordi Serra, Masia Museu Serra, (Barcelona, Spain).

2007

  • Christmas collection, Zenbu Gallery, (Barcelona, Spain).
  • Japanese Artists, Zenbu Gallery, (Barcelona, Spain).

Collaborations

2023

  • Láminas edición limitadas, Fundación Amigos Museo Reina Sofía, Ricoh y traspapel para ARCO.
  • Bolsos edición limitada, Fundación Amigos Museo Reina Sofía x Uniqlo para ARCO.

2018

  • Yukata collaboration x Mari Ito, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

2017

  • Limited Edition Mari Ito patches, Bershka, todos los países.
  • Nacimiento de origen del deseo ¿Es primavera? (pintura mural),
  • TMB Estación de Metro Universidad, Barcelona.

2016

  • Lilien Berg box, Lilien Berg, Kanagawa.

Art Fairs

2023

  • ARCO stand de Fundación Amigos Museo Reina Sofía, (Madrid).
  • Art Karlsruhe, Villa del Arte Galleries, (Karlsruhe).

2022

  • Art Fair Asia Fukuoka, Nap Gallery, (Fukuoka).
  • Contenporary Istanbul, Villa del Arte Galleries, (Istanbul).

2020

  • Art Karlsruhe, Villa del Arte Galleries, (Karlsruhe).

2019

  • Paper Position Munchen, Micheko gallery (Munich).
  • Affordable Art Fair Battersea, Villa del Arte Galleries, (London).
  • Art Fair Asia Fukuoka, Nap gallery, (Fukuoka).
  • Villa del Arte Galleries, (Bodensee).

2018

  • Art Paris, Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, (Paris).

2015

  • Aosando Art Fair, Omotesando Hills Tokyo, (Tokyo).

2014

  • AHAF Hong Kong 2014, Zeit Foto Salon, (Hong Kong).
  • Art Stage Singapore 2014, Villa del Arte Barcelona, (Singapore).

2013

  • Scope Miami 2013, Villa de Arte Galleries, Barcelona, (Miami).
  • Contemporary Istanbul, Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, (Istanbul).
  • Art Toronto 2013, Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, (Toronto).
  • Affordable Art Fair New York, Villa del Arte Barcelona, (New York).
  • Scope Basel 2013, Jankossen Contemporary Art Gallery, (Basel).

2012

  • Contemporary Istanbul, Tatiana Kourochkina Art Gallery, (Istanbul).
  • ArtNagoya, 2012 Contemporary Art Fair, The Westin Nagoya Castle, (Nagoya).

2010

  • AHAF2010HK, Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair. Gran Hyatt Hotel, (Hong Kong).