UTS Alumnus Artist Kentaro Yoshida Shown With Japan’s Greats

Kentaro with his mural for ‘Japan Supernatural’
Kentaro with his mural for ‘Japan Supernatural’

Sydney-based artist Kentaro Yoshida has come a long way since completing his Bachelor of Visual Communication at UTS.

Kentaro, whose art is often inspired by Japanese myths and comic books, grew up in Toyama, a Japanese fishing village 300km west of Tokyo, coming to Australia at the age of 18, where he studied English language and undertook a Diploma of Design at UTS Insearch, the pathway to UTS.

A keen surfer, Kentaro began painting on surfboards more than 10 years ago when one of his friends, a professional surfer from Japan, asked if he would paint his board. His work has since been commissioned by international brands, including Converse, Mambo, Billabong, Fanta, and Hurley.

In his latest venture, a Yokai (ghost) themed mural, typical of his work, has been included in a prestigious exhibition ‘Japan Supernatural’, showing at the Art Gallery of NSW from 2 November 2019 to 8 March 2020.

This extraordinary exhibition reveals three centuries of folklore and fantasy in Japanese art. Kentaro’s mural is in distinguished company, in a show that includes more than 180 works – from legendary master Katsushika Hokusai through to contemporary superstar Takashi Murakami.

Visit The Art Gallery of NSW for more about ‘Japan Supernatural.’