I have been creating this series based on the idea that painting is, at the same time, an act of erasing something. This way of working feels closely connected to the way human history is formed, and to how stories change their
shape as they are passed down over time.
Metamorphosis has been a recurring subject throughout my work. Since ancient times, people have felt both a longing for and a fear of transformation, and these feelings have been expressed in many forms through stories, rituals, and festivals. Metamorphosis also contains both an affirmation and a pessimism toward the condition of simply being human. It functions as a framework for thinking about flux, instability, and the fluid nature of meaning.
- Emi Mizukami
-Emi Mizukami (b. 1992, Tokyo, JP) lives and works in Tokyo, JP. Mizukami received her BFA in Oil Painting from Tama Art University, Tokyo in 2017. Previous solo exhibitions include Dear All Our Yesterdays at KOSAKU KANECHIKA, Tokyo, JP; Million Bubbles at Ehrlich Steinberg, Los Angeles, CA (2024); Pale Phantom at King’s Leap, NY (2024); And so it goes at Larder, Los Angeles, CA (2023); So it goes at 4649, Tokyo, JP (2022); Catharsis Bed at CADAN YURAKUCHO, Tokyo, JP (2022) and Dear sentiment at TOKAS Hongo, Tokyo, JP (2021). Previous group exhibitions include Scenes of Disclosure at Greene Naftali, New York, NY (2025); To Sway and Surround: Japanese Female Abstraction at Each Modern, Taipei, TW (2025); Laurel Gitlen, New York, NY (2024); Atavism for the Future at Ehrich Steinberg, Los Angeles, CA (2023); Letters, Lights, Trovels on the Street curated by Jerey Rosen at NowHere, New York, NY (2022) and Feelings for a spider at 4649, Tokyo, JP (2019). Mizukami’s work is included in various collections such as Lukowa Art Collection, Rubell Family Collection and Tumurun Museum.
Installation view. Not bird, not horse, not insect by Emi Mizukami, 2026.
Installation view. Not bird, not horse, not insect by Emi Mizukami, 2026.
Emi Mizukami, Attracted by illusions, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 18.25 x 15.5 in. (46.4 x 39.4 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Attracted by illusions, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 18.25 x 15.5 in. (46.4 x 39.4 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Attracted by illusions, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 18.25 x 15.5 in. (46.4 x 39.4 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Attracted by illusions, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 18.25 x 15.5 in. (46.4 x 39.4 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Not bird, not horse, not insect II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen. 71.25 x 89.5 in. (181.0 x 227.3 cm).
Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, I am you and you are me VI, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 40 x 29 in. (101.6 x 73.7 cm).
Installation view. Not bird, not horse, not insect by Emi Mizukami, 2026.
Emi Mizukami, Before becomes a flower, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16 x 12.5 in. (40.6 x 31.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Before becomes a flower, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16 x 12.5 in. (40.6 x 31.8 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Before becomes a flower, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16 x 12.5 in. (40.6 x 31.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Before becomes a flower, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16 x 12.5 in. (40.6 x 31.8 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Towards the light, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16.5 x 11.25 in. (41.9 x 28.6 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Towards the light, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16.5 x 11.25 in. (41.9 x 28.6 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Towards the light, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16.5 x 11.25 in. (41.9 x 28.6 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Towards the light, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16.5 x 11.25 in. (41.9 x 28.6 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Towards the light, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 16.5 x 11.25 in. (41.9 x 28.6 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Mantis/Tristesse II, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 64 x 52 in. (162.6 x 132.1 cm).
Installation view. Not bird, not horse, not insect by Emi Mizukami, 2026.
Installation view. Not bird, not horse, not insect by Emi Mizukami, 2026.
Emi Mizukami, Thoughts on Metamorphosis, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 6.75 x 11.25 in. (17.1 x 28.6 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Thoughts on Metamorphosis, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 6.75 x 11.25 in. (17.1 x 28.6 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Thoughts on Metamorphosis, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 6.75 x 11.25 in. (17.1 x 28.6 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Thoughts on Metamorphosis, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand, linen on panel, 6.75 x 11.25 in. (17.1 x 28.6 cm).
Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Back. Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Detail. Emi Mizukami, Fidgety heels, 2026. Acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, pastel, sand paste, desert sand on linen, 57.5 x 44 in. (146.1 x 111.8 cm).
Photos: Evan Walsh