Bringing 'Harmony' to the World Through Art: Global Expansion Following a New York Solo Exhibition

We support 'April Dream,' which aims to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release shares the dream of 'Healing Harmony Atelier Keiko.' WABI WORLD, which has a track record of expanding into overseas museums and museum shops, produces the artist KEIKO, who is active internationally. We are delivering Japanese aesthetics to the world in the form of art.

■ Expansion at the Cannes Film Festival Official GALA
KEIKO, evaluated as an award-winning and talented painter, designed a special art furoshiki (wrapping cloth) for international guests at the 77th Cannes Film Festival Official GALA (held on May 18, 2024).

The artwork features motifs such as Japanese flowers and cranes, composed as if they were blooming within the furoshiki, a symbol of Japanese culture.

At the GALA, cherry blossom trees were flown in from Japan for an Ikebana performance, creating a unique performance of 'blooming Japanese flowers' at the venue.

KEIKO's work was displayed in harmony with this Japanese cultural performance, receiving high international acclaim as a symbolic expression of the fusion of Japanese aesthetics and art.

■ Solo Exhibition at a Historic New York Gallery (2025)
Japanese painter KEIKO (Keiko Niimura) held a solo exhibition at the historic First Street Gallery in New York. This exhibition was realized after KEIKO was selected as an artist for the International Exhibition Support Program by the Japan Artists Association, in recognition of her past work and expression.

First Street Gallery is known as a long-standing artist-run gallery and a historic space with a unique presence in the New York art scene.

This exhibition was a memorable occasion, as it was the first exhibition by an overseas artist not residing in the United States in the gallery's history.

The exhibition, titled 'Resonating in Harmony with Nature and Japanese Culture,' was held from June 18 to June 28, 2025.

Many visitors attended the opening reception held on June 19. Authentic matcha from Uji, Kyoto, prepared by a tea master, was served, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience Japanese culture with all five senses while viewing the artwork.

In this exhibition, the art furoshiki presented at the Cannes Film Festival official GALA was also displayed, introducing the context of Japanese culture spreading from Cannes to New York.

■ About the Artwork
KEIKO's work is inspired by the relationship with nature rooted in Japanese culture, depicting animals and plants with vivid colors and abstract compositions. Her unique expression, which crosses between figurative and abstract, geometric composition, and rhythmic brushstrokes reminiscent of calligraphy, creates a fantastic and poetic worldview.

Her expression is not limited to the visual; it is evaluated as 'Healing Art' that shares healing, working on the senses and inner self of the viewer. In New York, her worldview and compositional power were highly acclaimed, gaining new support among the New York audience.

Future Developments: KEIKO is currently planning a triumphant exhibition in Japan following this exhibition and has begun full-scale activities in Japan.

■ April Dream: A Vision Spreading to the World
The future that KEIKO ART envisions is to deliver 'healing' art from a uniquely Japanese sensibility that values harmony with nature to people around the world through art.

Following the expansion at the Cannes Film Festival and the solo exhibition in New York, her activities have already begun to cross borders.

Moving forward, we will continue to expand our healing art, which is in harmony with nature and originates from Japan, globally through further overseas exhibitions and a triumphant exhibition in Japan.