Masato Yamaguchi Solo Exhibition "SELFY"

PARCO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter "PARCO") will hold a solo exhibition by Masato Yamaguchi, who is exploring the state of portraiture in contemporary society and is currently attracting attention in various fields including the art and fashion industries, at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO from Friday, August 7, 2026, to Monday, September 7, 2026.

Yamaguchi, one of the most talked-about contemporary artists today, will present an archive exhibition of his "SELFY" series, his representative work, marking its fifth anniversary. This exhibition, the largest to date, will redefine the seemingly consumptive behavior of "selfies"—a culture born from the chaotic street culture that has continued in Shibuya since the 1990s—as "contemporary art," posing the question, "Why selfies, now?"

Works on display will include new pieces created for this exhibition featuring Elaiza Ikeda as the model, and past collaborative works with celebrities, interpreted and exhibited from PARCO's unique perspective. We invite you to take this rare and valuable opportunity to visit.

Exhibition Overview

Venue: PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO (Shibuya PARCO 4F) 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Dates: Friday, August 7, 2026 - Monday, September 7, 2026, 11:00 - 21:00

*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. *Closes at 18:00 on the final day.

*Business hours are subject to change. Please check Shibuya PARCO's business hours.

Shibuya PARCO Official Website https://shibuya.parco.jp/

Admission Fee: 500 yen

Exhibition Website: https://art.parco.jp/

Organizer: PARCO Co., Ltd.

Cooperation: TRUEFALSE Inc.

Space Design: KANON Inc.

Exhibition Features

Key historical works depicting celebrities will be exhibited together, creating a valuable opportunity to see these pieces in person. Representative works, usually difficult to view, will be gathered with the cooperation of domestic and international collectors.

Furthermore, a vast collection of stencils, central to the artist's creative process, will be displayed. Through PARCO's unique interactive exhibition design and spatial presentation, you can experience Yamaguchi's works in an unparalleled way.

What is Masato Yamaguchi's "SELFY"?

The "SELFY" series by artist Masato Yamaguchi, launched at the end of 2020, has garnered enthusiastic support not only from the art world but also from various other fields since its solo exhibition in 2021. Since then, it has been exhibited worldwide in locations such as South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, London, and France, establishing an international reputation.

"Isn't the act of taking a selfie the ultimate form of portraiture in the contemporary era?"

With this critical question as its axis, Yamaguchi has spent five years continuously updating the concept of portraiture in art history for the modern age. In his exploration, he has collaborated with icons symbolizing contemporary culture, expanding his work beyond personal expression into a social project that reflects the times.

Exhibition Key Visual

To commemorate the exhibition, Masato Yamaguchi has depicted Elaiza Ikeda, who has a strong connection with PARCO, having previously featured in PARCO's summer season advertisements, in his SELFY style. This will be its world premiere at this exhibition. Please come and see it.

Special Talk Event

We will host a one-day special talk event with comedian Koken, an old acquaintance of the artist.

Starting with the unexpected connection between Koken and Masato Yamaguchi, we will offer a dream dialogue that transcends genres, spoken by two individuals who make their living through expression in contemporary society.

Details will be announced on the PARCO ART official website and social media as they are finalized.

Location: Shibuya PARCO 4F PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO

Date & Time: August 8 (Sat) 14:00-15:30 (scheduled)

*Participation method will be announced once confirmed.

*Event schedule is subject to change without notice. Please understand this in advance.

Appraisal of Masato Yamaguchi's Work

"Reality Beyond Reality"

Yamaguchi's depicted women all evoke a sense of déjà vu, as if we've met them somewhere before. Their poses, tilting their heads with smartphones in hand, or close-ups of faces enhanced with filters to appear cute, remind us of the countless unknown individuals who flood our social media feeds daily. The way young women appear on social media in similar poses, as if by prearrangement, is, for Yamaguchi, a reflection of the times. Even without a specific person or character as a model, viewers cannot help but see themselves or someone they know in these images, feeling a sense of familiarity. There is a symbolic representation of the era, akin to Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe, and it can be said that he depicts the very image of contemporary Asia, shared vaguely across nations and languages. In an era where people worldwide are connected online and constantly linked to social media, the boundaries between real and virtual are increasingly blurred, and Yamaguchi's sensibility delicately captures how the images on a screen can sometimes hold more reality than what is in front of us. Crying over LINE messages, self-love for filtered selfies, genuine love for virtual idols—these are commonplace in daily life and can no longer be dismissed as mere fiction. Against this backdrop of the times, Yamaguchi continues to question the nature of reality by creating works with the theme of "Trans-reality (Reality Beyond Reality)."

- Miwa Kusanagi, Art Historian

Artwork Sales

For those interested in purchasing Yamaguchi's artworks in conjunction with this exhibition, please inquire via the form below.

Inquiry Form: https://forms.office.com/r/61scv56xG8

*The information you provide will be shared with the representative of TRUEFALSE Inc., which handles Yamaguchi's works, and they will respond to you.

*It may take some time for the representative to respond. *Artwork inquiries cannot be handled by phone.

Profile

Masato Yamaguchi continues to question the nature of reality by depicting women taking selfies (SELFY) with the theme of "Trans-reality (Reality Beyond Reality)." He has engaged in borderless activities, including collaboration designs for apparel brand X-girl and YouTuber Hikaru's ReZARD collection, as well as collaborations with Remu Suzumori, Hatsune Miku, and Otowa. His major solo exhibitions include "SELFY : I'M IN TRANS" (Tokyo 2025), "MASATO YAMAGUCHI × REMU SUZUMORI WORLD TOUR" (Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo 2025), "REMIXED BY" x FUKI COMMITTEE (Tokyo 2024), and "SELFY:完整版" (Hong Kong 2022).