Oji Makoto's paintings possess a remarkable ability to slow us down. Their extraordinary realism is immediately striking, but technical accomplishment is only the beginning. The longer we spend with these works, the more they reveal themselves.
Working from subjects drawn from everyday life—fruit, flowers, landscapes, figures and his beloved companion Inu—Oji approaches each with patience and sensitivity. Every painting is the result of careful observation, seeking not simply to record appearance, but to capture the quiet presence and character that exists within ordinary things.
This distinctive way of seeing has been shaped by both Japanese and European traditions. While trained in Japan, Oji's long association with the Florence Prize Exhibition and his study of classical painting techniques in Italy have deepened his understanding of Renaissance realism. Rather than imitating either tradition, he brings them together to create paintings that feel timeless, balancing technical precision with a profound sense of contemplation.
As both an acclaimed painter and professor in the oil painting department at Kyoto University of the Arts, Oji continues to preserve and develop these demanding traditions through his own practice and his teaching.
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to encounter a significant body of Oji's work in Britain.
The exhibition is on display at The Gallery at Green & Stone from 7–19 September 2026.