Kanako Ozawa (b. 1988, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese artist who graduated from the Department of Media Art at Tokyo Polytechnic University in 2010. Known for her unique exploration of traditional Japanese aesthetics, she expresses the concept of “blank space” within her work, creating a sense of stillness infused with movement. Her distinctive embossed paintings and sculptures, which feature two-legged figures that evoke a sense of personification, invite viewers to interpret the narratives within them.
Ozawa has exhibited at prominent events such as the Korea International Art Fair, Affordable Art Fair in Milan, and Art Fair Tokyo. She enjoys significant popularity among young, affluent audiences in Taiwan, who appreciate her ability to merge contemporary themes with deep cultural roots.
Her work embodies a form of Japanese animism, where she conveys the belief that all things possess a spirit. Ozawa's minimalist compositions and expansive white margins encourage viewers to overlap their realities with her art. The serene characters in her paintings and sculptures may appear to be asleep, yet they exude an underlying vibrancy, akin to animation techniques that suggest movement.
