{"id":19754,"date":"2026-01-03T15:28:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T07:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/?post_type=portfolio_page&#038;p=19754"},"modified":"2026-01-03T15:49:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T07:49:13","slug":"naoki-nakao","status":"publish","type":"portfolio_page","link":"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/portfolio_page\/naoki-nakao\/","title":{"rendered":"Naoki Nakao"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Naoki Nakao<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=&#8221;small&#8221; position=&#8221;left&#8221; color=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"qode-advanced-tabs qode-advanced-tabs qode-advanced-horizontal-tab clearfix qode-advanced-tab-without-icon qode-advanced-tabs-column-7 clearfix\">\n\t<ul class=\"qode-advanced-tabs-nav\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e4%bb%8b%e7%b4%b9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u4ecb\u7d39\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e7%b0%a1%e6%ad%b7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u7c21\u6b77\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e4%bd%9c%e5%93%81\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u4f5c\u54c1\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e5%b1%95%e8%a6%bd\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u5c55\u89bd\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e6%b4%bb%e5%8b%95\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u6d3b\u52d5\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e5%bd%b1%e7%89%87\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u5f71\u7247\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#tab-%e5%88%86%e4%ba%ab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"qode-advanced-tab-text-after-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u5206\u4eab\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e4%bb%8b%e7%b4%b9-776\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\">[vc_row_inner row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1756995859476{padding-bottom: 32px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Introduction to Naoki Nakao<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Naoki Nakao (b.1986, Shimane) is a highly regarded contemporary Japanese realist artist, known for his masterful figure painting and distinctive visual language. While completing his MFA at Musashino Art University, he received the Studio Award in recognition of his strong technical foundation, marking a key starting point in his artistic career.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\">His work has been <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\">exhibited<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\"> and awarded in major exhibitions, including the Alton Award at the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW244800339 BCX0\">Hakujitsukai<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\"> Exhibition in 2012 and recognition at the Maeda Kanji Grand Prize Exhibition in 2014. Working fluidly with oil, tempera, and graphite, Nakao centers his practice on themes of the human body and the \u201csubtle\u201d (<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW244800339 BCX0\">kasuka<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244800339 BCX0\">). Rather than mere representation, he investigates the dynamic interaction between body, material, and the artist himself, viewing each work as the emergence of a \u201cnew body\u201d shaped through physical action, material response, and the accumulation of time.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW244800339 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\">Nakao\u2019s paintings thus unfold as continuous events of body, matter, and <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\">perception<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\">. He <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\">seeks<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251008452 BCX0\"> to engage the viewer\u2019s own physical presence, transforming viewing from a purely visual act into a bodily dialogue\u2014an approach that offers a rare and profound exploration within contemporary Japanese realism.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW251008452 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;19755&#8243; qode_css_animation=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]<\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e7%b0%a1%e6%ad%b7-990\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\">[vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">1986 Born in Shimane, Japan<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"43\" data-end=\"54\">Education<br \/>\n2011 Musashino Art University Graduate School (Oil Painting)<br data-start=\"116\" data-end=\"119\" \/>2009 Musashino Art University, Faculty of Art and Design (Oil Painting)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"43\" data-end=\"54\">Current Position<br data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"216\" \/>Part-time Lecturer, Oil Painting Department, Musashino Art University<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Solo Exhibitions<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"290\" data-end=\"507\">2025 Arton Gallery, Tokyo<br data-start=\"334\" data-end=\"337\" \/>2023 Arton Gallery, Tokyo<br data-start=\"362\" data-end=\"365\" \/>2020 Arton Gallery, Tokyo<br data-start=\"390\" data-end=\"393\" \/>2018 Arton Gallery, Tokyo<br data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"421\" \/>2016 Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Tokyo<br data-start=\"455\" data-end=\"458\" data-is-only-node=\"\" \/>2014 Tokyo Art Fair<br data-start=\"477\" data-end=\"480\" \/>2012 Arton Gallery, Tokyo<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Selected Group Exhibitions<br \/>\n2018 <em data-start=\"546\" data-end=\"561\">The Naked Eye<\/em>, Gallery Suchi<br data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"579\" \/>2017 Sato Museum of Art, 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Natsume S\u014dseki<br data-start=\"652\" data-end=\"655\" \/>2015 <em data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"674\">out of sight<\/em>, Art Morimoto<br data-start=\"688\" data-end=\"691\" \/>2015 <em data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"719\">New Breeze Exhibition<\/em>, Namba Takashimaya, Yokohama Takashimaya, 2017<br data-start=\"766\" data-end=\"769\" data-is-only-node=\"\" \/>2015 <em data-start=\"774\" data-end=\"785\">TOBI WAVE<\/em>, Tokyo Art Club<br data-start=\"801\" data-end=\"804\" \/>2014 The 9th Maeda Kanji Grand Prize Exhibition, Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Kurayoshi Museum<br data-start=\"893\" data-end=\"896\" \/>2013 <em data-start=\"901\" data-end=\"920\">Avenir Exhibition<\/em>, Shunpudo Gallery, ~2018<br data-start=\"945\" data-end=\"948\" \/>2010 Sato Museum of Art Award Student Art Exhibition<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1006\" data-end=\"1014\">Awards<br \/>\n2012 Alton Award, 88th Hakujitsukai Exhibition<br data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1065\" \/>2011 Musashino Art University Studio Award<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e4%bd%9c%e5%93%81-509\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\">[vc_row_inner row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1756968628958{padding-top: 32px !important;padding-bottom: 32px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-19757 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-173x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"173\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-173x300.jpeg 173w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-591x1024.jpeg 591w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-768x1331.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-886x1536.jpeg 886w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-1181x2048.jpeg 1181w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-700x1213.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-600x1040.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8a60\u5606\u8abf-scaled.jpeg 1477w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 173px) 100vw, 173px\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong> Portrait<\/strong><br \/>\nOil on panel<br \/>\n65.2x53cm, 2025<br \/>\nNTD$333,000[\/vc_column_text]\n\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/portfolio_page\/naoki-nakao\/%e4%b8%ad%e5%b0%be%e7%9b%b4%e8%b2%b4-%e8%a9%a0%e5%98%86%e8%aa%bf\/\" target=\"_blank\"  class=\"qode-btn qode-btn-medium qode-btn-solid qode-btn-default-hover\"  >\n\t    <span class=\"qode-btn-text\">Inquire<\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-19758 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-205x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-205x300.jpeg 205w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-700x1024.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-768x1123.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-1050x1536.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-1400x2048.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-600x878.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\u4e2d\u5c3e\u76f4\u8cb4-\u8eab\u9ad4-scaled.jpeg 1750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1767422044109{padding-top: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<strong>Apple<\/strong><br \/>\nOil on panel<br \/>\n41&#215;31.8cm, 2023-2025<br \/>\nNTD$123,000[\/vc_column_text]\n\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/portfolio_page\/naoki-nakao\/%e4%b8%ad%e5%b0%be%e7%9b%b4%e8%b2%b4-%e8%ba%ab%e9%ab%94\/\" target=\"_blank\"  class=\"qode-btn qode-btn-medium qode-btn-solid qode-btn-default-hover\"  >\n\t    <span class=\"qode-btn-text\">Inquire<\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;32&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]<\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e5%b1%95%e8%a6%bd-767\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\"><div class='latest_post_two_holder three_columns'><ul><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e6%b4%bb%e5%8b%95-334\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\"><div class='latest_post_two_holder three_columns'><ul><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e5%bd%b1%e7%89%87-240\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"qode-advanced-tab-container\" id=\"tab-%e5%88%86%e4%ba%ab-502\" data-icon-pack=\"\" data-icon-html=\"\">[vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<div class=\"s-column\"><a title=\"ig\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/lochanpeng?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nakao_naoki\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\" src=\"https:\/\/enlighten-gallery.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ico-ig.svg\" alt=\"ig\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. 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