Shinya Kumazawa

Shinya Kumazawa (b. 1970) was born and raised in Suwa in Japan, where it is a basin with Lake Suwa, surrounded by mountains. The area has a long history of Suwa Shrine where people has been protecting and deifying the mountains and trees over 2000 years. His fascination to the nature goes back to his childhood when he was mesmerized by the stars. Even in the cold winter night he took out his telescope to watch stars, planets and the moon.

Shinya has been living and painting in Toronto since 2000. For the first decade, he devoted himself painting nature in High Park. Mesmerized by the shifting seasons as they unfold on the 400 acres, ranging from blooming cherry blossoms from his homeland to changing fall leaves and glittering snowscapes typical of the Canadian landscape, he has created over 100 paintings. With 50% of this work physically painted in High Park, Shinya has not only drawn the attention of regular park visitors as he worked his canvases, but also the attention of the Park's wildlife - once having painted in the company of a coyote. The colours and contrasting lighting that typifies this Toronto gem is Shinya's muse.

Currently Shinya is exploring light, color and space and attempting to recreate a life in the...

1995 University of Arizona, BA (Philosophy)

2019 Arta Galley, "Transform" Group Show
2014 Gallery 1313 "Stroll in High Park"
2006 Gallery 1313 Cell Gallery, Toronto
2005 Galerie Bertossini, TorontoGallery 1313, Toronto
2003 PH Gallery, NYC
2003 Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery, Toronto