Ryo Matsuoka
RM_0042: Untitled, RM_0047: Untitled
2023-2024
A set of two, each H 36.4 x W 25.7 cm
Embroidery (cloth) on wood panel
Unique
Ryo Matsuoka’s artistic practice redefines textiles as a medium akin to paint or pencil, yet underpinned by the unique constraints of the sewing machine. This apparatus imposes a limited field of vision and necessitates that the artist manoeuvres the fabric around a fixed needle, crafting lines through the intricate tensions and releases of the material. The requirement to physically alter the fabric’s direction and rethread the machine for colour changes adds layers that enhance depth and texture, distinguishing his work from traditional painting. Operating at proximity to his canvas, Matsuoka’s attention is focused intensely on the act of creation itself.
The work has been auctioned off during the Charity Auction on March 22nd 2025 and creatively loaned by the generous bidder for Design Trust Charity Exhibition: Transformational Exceptions.
About Ryo Matsuoka
Ryo Matsuoka (b. 1974, Japan) is a uniquely instinctual artist who works in a wide range of media; from painting, drawing, embroidery, murals and large-scale installations. He began drawing at an early age and developed his practice in the Tokyo street art scene of the 1990s and through his travels, memories of which have provided rich inspiration for his work. Building on these experiences, Matsuoka has continued to create works for the past 40 years, incorporating the act of creating into his daily life. His commitment to creating remains unwavering and he continues to create an impressive body of work that he shows both in Japan and internationally.
Matsuoka’s vibrant and bold style has also been recognised by the fashion world, with several notable fashion brands including Maisons, Yohji Yamamoto, and the Hong Kong boutique Joyce, among others. Matsuoka’s ability to work on a large scale and outside the confines of the traditional gallery space also led to an invitation by Louis Vuitton to create the paintings for their first-ever restaurant space, Le Café V, in Maison Osaka Midosuji. His work with the Maison continued in 2022 when he was invited to paint a circular mural on the ceiling of the newly renovated Louis Vuitton store in Ikebukuro.
