Kosuke Okahara

Kosuke Okahara, 2015Kosuke Okahara (岡原功祐, Okahara Kōsuke; born February 15, 1980) is a Japanese artist based in Tokyo.

Early life

He studied education at Waseda University before starting his practice as an artist. His scroll book Vanishing Existence was included in the collection of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) in Munich. He is represented by Polka Galerie, Paris.

Solo exhibitions

2026 · Slightly Elsewhere, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2024 · Vanishing Existence, Musée Cernuschi, Paris, France (17 September – 8 December 2024) 2019 · Ibasyo, Kyotographie, Kyoto, Japan 2019 · Ibasyo book project, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan 2018 · Ibasyo book project, Mirage Gallery, Kobe, Japan 2017 · Rhapsody in the dark, Photo Festival de Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Brieuc, France 2016 · Fragments/Fukushima, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2016 · Fragments/Fukushima, Maison de la culture du Japon, Paris, France 2016 · Fragments/Fukushima, Espace Kuu, Tokyo, Japan 2016 · Fragments/Fukushima, Mt. Rokko International Photo Festival, Kobe, Japan 2015 · Almost Paradise, Only Photography, Berlin, Germany 2015 · Fragments/Fukushima, Photo Antalya, Antalya, Turkey 2013 · Surviving for existence, Photo Festival de Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Brieuc, France 2011 · Ibasyo, Kunsthal, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2009 · Ibasyo, Noorderlicht, Groningen, Netherlands

Group exhibitions

2022 · Photobooks. Art page by page, Grassi Museum, Leipzig, Germany 2021 · blue affair, Hong Kong International Photo Festival 2020 · Vertiges des jours, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2019 · Magnum Live Lab, Kyotographie, Kyoto, Japan 2018 · Terres des Îles, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2017 · SHOWCASE, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany 2015 · 100 years of Leica Photography, C/O Berlin, Berlin, Germany 2015 · Emerging, Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles, USA 2014 · 100 years of Leica Photography, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg, Germany 2011 · Kosuke Okahara et Jehsong Baak, Galerie KJB, Paris, France 2011 · Vanishing Existence, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2011 · Ibasyo, Photo Quai, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Paris, France 2010 · Ibasyo, Fotografia, Rome, Italy 2010 · Vanishing Existence, Gallery 21, Tokyo, Japan 2009 · Chance, Polka Galerie, Paris, France 2009 · Ibasyo, Sony World Photography Award, Aperture Gallery, New York, USA 2009 · Almost Paradise, Editors' Choice, Ricoh Ring Cube, Tokyo, Japan 2009 · Vanishing Existence, Prix Kodak de la Critique Photographique, Paris, France 2006 · Resistance –Darfur Conflict–, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan 2005 · Resistance –Darfur Conflict–, Kyushu University Museum, Fukuoka, Japan

Art fairs

2025 · Paris Photo, Polka Galerie 2022 · Paris Photo, Polka Galerie 2021 · Paris Photo, Polka Galerie 2019 · Paris Photo, Only Photography 2019 · AIPAD, Only Photography 2018 · AIPAD, Only Photography 2017 · Paris Photo, Only Photography 2017 · AIPAD, Only Photography 2016 · AIPAD, Only Photography 2015 · Paris Photo, Only Photography 2010 · Tokyo Photo, Gallery 21

Film festivals

2021 · blue affair, Official Selection, International competition, Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Official Selection / Best Contemporary Experimental Short, Sapporo International Short Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Jury's Special Mention, Short Film Competition, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Official Selection, LAB Competition, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Official Selection, New Holland Island International Debut Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Official Selection, Bueu International Short Film Festival 2021 · blue affair, Les Nuits Photo

Public collections

Musée Cernuschi, Paris, France Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany F11 Foto Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Dreams, London, Canada Kindai University, Osaka, Japan Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Nagano, Japan

Artist books and monographs

Artist books

Vanishing Existence, 2nd edition. THE BACKYARD, 2024. Vanishing Existence, Oban edition. 2016. Ibasyo Book Journey. Handependent, 2014. (not for sale) Vanishing Existence, Special edition. Backyard Project, 2013. Vanishing Existence. Backyard Project, 2013.

Monographs

Ibasyo. Japan: Kousakusha, 2018. Fukushima Fragments. France: Éditions de la Martinière, 2015. Almost Paradise. Only Photography, Germany, 2014. Contact #1 –Any given day–. KOW, Japan, 2013.

Awards and grants

2024 · Toshiaki Ogasawara Memorial Foundation Travel Grant 2024 · Japan Artists Association Production Grant 2022 · Regional Prize – Asia, Open format category, World Press Photo 2021 · Best Contemporary Experimental Short, 16th Sapporo International Short Film Festival 2021 · Jury's Special Mention, 20th Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival 2017 · Saint-Brieuc Festival Grant 2014 · Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award 2013 · Saint-Brieuc Festival Grant 2012 · Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography 2012 · Finalist, European Publishers Award 2010 · Fellowship, W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund 2009 · World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass (first Japanese selected) 2009 · PDN's 30 emerging photographers to watch 2009 · Special Mention, Prix Kodak de la Critique Photographique 2009 · Overseas Training Grant for Emerging Artists, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese Government 2005 · Grand Prize, 6th Ueno Hikoma Award