Next-Generation Talent Gathers in Kobe: "AI ART meets Art Fair," the First Public Exhibition Utilizing AI in Production, and the 11th "Artist meets Art Fair" Aiming to Discover Next-Generation Artists, Announce Selected Artists
TODOROKI Co., Ltd. has announced the selected artists for "AI ART meets Art Fair," the first public exhibition utilizing AI in production, and the 11th "Artist meets Art Fair," aimed at discovering next-generation artists. These selected works will be showcased and sold at the "KOBE ART MARCHÉ 2026."
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 22:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 14:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 14:12 (10 min after Collected)
TODOROKI Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Masaya Inoue, hereinafter "TODOROKI") is pleased to announce the selected artists for the public exhibitions "AI ART meets Art Fair" and the 11th "Artist meets Art Fair," both held as related projects to the contemporary art fair "KOBE ART MARCHÉ 2026," which the company operates.
The selected works will be unveiled and sold all at once in a special booth within the venue of the 17th hotel-type art fair, "KOBE ART MARCHÉ 2026."
■ Selected Artists for the First "AI ART meets Art Fair"
https://art-marche.jp/ai-art-award/
"AI ART meets Art Fair" is a public exhibition held for the first time, where contemporary artworks utilizing AI in their production process were judged and exhibited. In an era where anyone can easily create expressions with AI, this initiative was planned as an attempt to explore the possibilities of AI art and how it is received, by placing AI-driven expression at the intersection of evaluation and market through an "art fair."
As a result of comprehensive evaluations by leading professionals in various fields, considering aspects such as the philosophy, context, and necessity of expression in the artworks, the following three individuals were selected:
* Yusuke Kodama
Yusuke Kodama Selected Work
* Aphic
Aphic Selected Work
* tsumichara
tsumichara Selected Work
＜Judges' General Comments＞
Yasushi Kawata (Representative Director, Kawata Gallery; Director, Kobe Art Promotion Association): "I had expected that the majority of applications would be from those who thought 'AI makes production easy,' but in reality, there were many powerful works that delved deeply into AI and were elaborately crafted, and I was surprised by their passion. While digital utilization is accelerating, I believe the charm of places that feel human warmth, like a flea market, and the beauty of good old things, will only increase in value in the future."
Hiroki Yamamoto (Cultural Researcher, Associate Professor, Department of Aesthetics and Art History, Faculty of Letters, Jissen Women's University): "For the first 'AI ART meets Art Fair,' a diverse range of works was submitted, which made judging challenging. Among them, the criterion I focused on was whether 'AI was used as a medium, not just a tool.' AI and technology serve as auxiliary tools that develop and expand human thought, but at the same time, they can also become a unique medium to realize things in unprecedented ways. In art using AI, I wish to explore the latter possibility."
Minoru Hatanaka (Curator, Art and Music Critic): "The wide range of submitted works indicates that the term 'AI ART' is broadly defined merely as expression using AI, leaving it open to possibilities. In daily life, AI complements and dictates our actions, and in the creative realm, human thought is being shaped in response to AI. In such a situation, I conducted the judging while consciously considering the relationship with AI, and how we can collaborate and expand through critical and creative encounters with AI."
Shoji Fukuoka (Principal, Kobe Denshi College of Computer and Design): "Considering the judging policy for this exhibition was very meaningful. Is it creation from the perspective of computing nature, or something strongly rooted in the human world? AI is undergoing exponential evolution, but it is still just the beginning. In 2020, our country shifted the curriculum guidelines for elementary and secondary education to 'inquiry-based learning' for the AI era. As a higher education institution connected to this, having set 'Creative Engineer' as our exit policy, I measured the reach of the works and the time saved. And as an institution that upholds the school vision of 'creating a society where everyone can thrive,' I strongly resonated with creations that did not compromise the essence of inquiry, or adhered to a particular creative method."
■ 11th "Artist meets Art Fair" ( https://art-marche.jp/award/ )
"Artist meets Art Fair" is a public exhibition aimed at discovering and supporting next-generation artists.
Since its inception in 2014, it has been held repeatedly, and this year marks its 11th edition. Numerous artists have been selected as finalists, leading to their subsequent success.
The selected works will be unveiled and sold all at once in a special booth within the venue of the 17th hotel-type art fair, "KOBE ART MARCHÉ 2026."
■ Selected Artists for the First "AI ART meets Art Fair"
https://art-marche.jp/ai-art-award/
"AI ART meets Art Fair" is a public exhibition held for the first time, where contemporary artworks utilizing AI in their production process were judged and exhibited. In an era where anyone can easily create expressions with AI, this initiative was planned as an attempt to explore the possibilities of AI art and how it is received, by placing AI-driven expression at the intersection of evaluation and market through an "art fair."
As a result of comprehensive evaluations by leading professionals in various fields, considering aspects such as the philosophy, context, and necessity of expression in the artworks, the following three individuals were selected:
* Yusuke Kodama
Yusuke Kodama Selected Work
* Aphic
Aphic Selected Work
* tsumichara
tsumichara Selected Work
＜Judges' General Comments＞
Yasushi Kawata (Representative Director, Kawata Gallery; Director, Kobe Art Promotion Association): "I had expected that the majority of applications would be from those who thought 'AI makes production easy,' but in reality, there were many powerful works that delved deeply into AI and were elaborately crafted, and I was surprised by their passion. While digital utilization is accelerating, I believe the charm of places that feel human warmth, like a flea market, and the beauty of good old things, will only increase in value in the future."
Hiroki Yamamoto (Cultural Researcher, Associate Professor, Department of Aesthetics and Art History, Faculty of Letters, Jissen Women's University): "For the first 'AI ART meets Art Fair,' a diverse range of works was submitted, which made judging challenging. Among them, the criterion I focused on was whether 'AI was used as a medium, not just a tool.' AI and technology serve as auxiliary tools that develop and expand human thought, but at the same time, they can also become a unique medium to realize things in unprecedented ways. In art using AI, I wish to explore the latter possibility."
Minoru Hatanaka (Curator, Art and Music Critic): "The wide range of submitted works indicates that the term 'AI ART' is broadly defined merely as expression using AI, leaving it open to possibilities. In daily life, AI complements and dictates our actions, and in the creative realm, human thought is being shaped in response to AI. In such a situation, I conducted the judging while consciously considering the relationship with AI, and how we can collaborate and expand through critical and creative encounters with AI."
Shoji Fukuoka (Principal, Kobe Denshi College of Computer and Design): "Considering the judging policy for this exhibition was very meaningful. Is it creation from the perspective of computing nature, or something strongly rooted in the human world? AI is undergoing exponential evolution, but it is still just the beginning. In 2020, our country shifted the curriculum guidelines for elementary and secondary education to 'inquiry-based learning' for the AI era. As a higher education institution connected to this, having set 'Creative Engineer' as our exit policy, I measured the reach of the works and the time saved. And as an institution that upholds the school vision of 'creating a society where everyone can thrive,' I strongly resonated with creations that did not compromise the essence of inquiry, or adhered to a particular creative method."
■ 11th "Artist meets Art Fair" ( https://art-marche.jp/award/ )
"Artist meets Art Fair" is a public exhibition aimed at discovering and supporting next-generation artists.
Since its inception in 2014, it has been held repeatedly, and this year marks its 11th edition. Numerous artists have been selected as finalists, leading to their subsequent success.