Keeenue’s Keen Sense of Color and Composition

With vivid hues and rhythmic forms that compel the eye to wander across the canvas, the paintings of Keeenue captivate at first glance. Originally drawn to the world of design and art direction, the Kanagawa-born artist majored in graphic design at university.

‘I wanted to be involved in creative work, so I looked for a job as an artist’s assistant. But over time, I found it hard to make my own work while staying busy with someone else’s. After working with Keiichi Tanaami for three years, my desire to paint grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, I decided to leave and pursue life as an artist.’

Her works bring together recognizable figures—humans and animals rendered in a character-like style—with abstract, expressive compositions of color and line. The result is a striking balance between the figurative and the abstract.

‘I’ve always liked looking at old paintings. Lately, I’ve been paying attention to Matisse, who experimented with a variety of techniques. I also look at a lot of photographs. The compositions, as well as the poses of the people in them, often spark ideas for paintings.’

Spray paint, which she started using recently, has become a tool for experimentation—inviting chance into the work. At the same time, she’s rediscovered the joy of collage, where colors and shapes can be arranged intuitively by hand. Lately, she’s also begun exploring the balance between abstraction and figuration through the relationship between image and language.

Keeenue is eager to push her practice beyond the canvas, embracing new mediums and forms. When asked what lies ahead, she reflects:

‘I have concrete goals, like exhibiting and creating more work overseas. But if you can imagine something, you can usually get closer to it with enough effort. That’s why I want to become someone I can’t yet imagine. I hope to live in a future where I’m doing things I couldn’t possibly picture now.’

More information about Keeenue is available on the artist’s website.

Keeenue

Born in 1992 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, she exhibits paintings and large-scale murals in Japan and abroad. Her recent solo show Color Outside the Lines, was on view at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO until February 3rd 2025.