Izumi Katō (artist)

{{Short description|Japanese contemporary artist}} {{Improve images|date=April 2026|type=biographical}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Izumi Katō | honorific_suffix = | image =  | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = 加藤泉 | native_name_lang = ja | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}} | birth_place = [[Yasugi, Shimane|Yasugi]], [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]], Japan<ref name="profile" /> | baptised =  | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | nationality =  | education = | alma_mater = [[Musashino Art University]] | known_for = Sculpting, painting | notable_works = "Untitled 2004" | style = | movement = [[Contemporary art]] | spouse = Naoko Kameyama | partner = | children = | parents = | father = | mother = | relatives = | family = | awards =  | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = {{URL|https://izumikato.com/}} | module = }} {{Nihongo|'''Izumi Katō'''|加藤泉|Katō Izumi|lead=yes|born 1969}} is a Japanese contemporary artist, painter, and sculptor.

== Career == Katō was born in Shimane Prefecture. He attended [[Musashino Art University]] and graduated from the Department of Oil Painting in 1992.<ref name="profile">{{cite web | title=PROFILE | website=IZUMI KATO | url=https://izumikato.com/PROFILE | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> He would first enter the public eye in 1995, with his paintings debuting at group exhibitions in Tokyo.<ref name="nadiff">{{cite web | title=加藤泉『絵と彫刻』－作品集出版記念展－ | website=NADiff | url=http://www.nadiff.com/gallery/katoizumi.html | language=ja | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref>

Inspired by [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]], [[Vincent van Gogh]], and [[Itō Jakuchū]], most of Katō's sculptures draw from the meaning of life,<ref name="artscape 2013">{{cite web | title=加藤泉《無題》──今ここにいる遠い私「島敦彦」 | last=Kageyama | first=Kōichi | website=DNP Museum Information Japan | date=2013-01-12 | url=https://artscape.jp/study/art-achive/10069651_1982.html | language=ja | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> often resembling embryos or fetuses,<ref name="albatro 2010">{{cite web | title=加藤泉日本の新鋭アーティストの形を持たない怪しい胎児達 | website=Albatro Design | date=2010-06-20 | url=http://www.albatro.jp/birdyard/illustration-art/kato-izumi/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620231711/http://www.albatro.jp/birdyard/illustration-art/kato-izumi/index.htm | archive-date=2010-06-20 | url-status=dead | language=ja | access-date=2023-03-30}}</ref> and his works are intentionally left untitled to challenge the audience.<ref>{{cite web | title=『無題』というアート、その理由とは？加藤泉《無題》が公開中 | website=Fujingaho | date=2023-01-19 | url=https://www.fujingaho.jp/culture/art/a42515656/art-yamaguchikatsura-230119/ | url-access=subscription | language=ja | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref> He made his international debut as he went into sculpting around 2004.<ref name="profile"/> Katō's sculptures would be featured at [[Art Tower Mito]]'s contemporary art gallery, then the [[Japan Society (Manhattan)|Japan Society Gallery]]'s exhibit in [[New York City]] in 2005.<ref name="Japan Society 2009">{{cite web | title=Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture | website=Japan Society, New York | date=2009-01-06 | url=https://japansociety.org/little_boy_the_arts_of_japans_exploding_subculture | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106012952/https://japansociety.org/little_boy_the_arts_of_japans_exploding_subculture | archive-date=2009-01-06 | url-status=dead | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> In 2007, he was discovered by American curator [[Robert Storr (art academic)|Robert Storr]], who noted that Kato's works were more abrasive and edgier than most Japanese works,<ref name="artnet">{{cite web | last=Rea | first=Naomi | title=Japanese Artist Izumi Kato’s Enigmatic Finger Paintings Have Earned a Cult Following for Their 'Disturbingly Mutant' Imagery | website=Artnet News | date=2023-08-10 | url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/izumi-kato-up-next-2347101 | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref> which led to Storr inviting Kato to be the first young Japanese artist at the [[52nd Venice Biennale]].<ref name="mynavi 2008">{{cite web | title=異文化交流が生み出す現代美術の可能性を探る - 原美術館 | website=Mynavi News | date=2008-07-18 | url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080718-artscope/ | language=ja | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref><ref name="albatro 2010"/>

=== ''Untitled 2004'' === {{redirect|Untitled 2004|the work by Banksy|Untitled (2004)}} {{Infobox artwork | title = Untitled 2004 | image = Untitled 2004 by Izumi Katō.jpg | other_language_1 = Japanese | other_title_1 = 無題 2004 | artist = Izumi Katō | year = {{start date|2004}} | medium = Wood, acrylic, charcoal | movement = | height_metric = 205 | width_metric = 56 | length_metric = 52 | dimensions_ref = <ref name="untitled 2004" /> | metric_unit = cm | imperial_unit = in | weight = | designation = | condition = | museum = | city = | coordinates =  | owner = Takahashi Ryutaro Collection | website = {{URL|https://izumikato.com/filter/sculpture/Untitled-2004}} | italic title = no }}

{{Nihongo|"'''''Untitled 2004'''''"|無題 2004|Mudai Nisen'yon}} is a painted wood sculpture, currently owned by the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection,<ref name="untitled 2004">{{cite web | title=Untitled 2004 | website=IZUMI KATO | url=https://izumikato.com/filter/sculpture/Untitled-2004 | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref><ref name="Takahashi Ryutaro Collection 2022">{{cite web | title=Messages: Takahashi Collection | website=Takahashi Ryutaro Collection | url=https://www.takahashi-collection.com/en/exhibitions/messages-towada/ | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> that appears to depict a baby-like creature pressed against the wall with its large head turned to the side.<ref name="scai">{{cite web | title=Izumi Kato | website=SCAI The Bathhouse | url=https://www.scaithebathhouse.com/en/exhibitions/2005/04/izumi_kato/ | access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref>

On the internet, Keisuke Yamamoto's photograph of the sculpture was used in the 2007 [[4chan]] post that described it as "[[SCP-173]]": the first entry in what became the [[SCP Foundation]] writing project. In 2014, Kato responded to the image's derivative use, reluctantly permitting its use by the SCP Foundation as long as he is credited and the work is not used for commercial purposes.<ref name="CGMagazine 2 February 2022">{{cite news |last1=Biordi |first1=Jordan |title=SCP-173's Infamous Image to Be Removed Soon. |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/creepypasta-scp-173s-soon-be-removed/ |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=CGMagazine |date=2 February 2022 |language=en-CA}}</ref> In 2022, the SCP Foundation removed the photograph to avoid possible legal issues as it did not comply with their [[Creative Commons license]]. The entry's original author requested that the image not be replaced with anything, in order to let people envision "SCP-173" for themselves.<ref name="CGMagazine 2 February 2022" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Internet Horror Legend Sees Incredible Reimagining After Over A Decade Of Tensions |url=https://kotaku.com/scp-foundation-173-4chan-izumi-kato-control-horror-cree-1848550692 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=Kotaku |date=2022-02-16 |language=en-us |archive-date=2022-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510130530/https://kotaku.com/scp-foundation-173-4chan-izumi-kato-control-horror-cree-1848550692 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Personal life == Kato is married to fellow artist Naoko Kameyama.<ref name="albatro 2010"/> They have children.<ref name="mynavi 2008"/>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://izumikato.com/ Izumi Kato]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kato, Izumi}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Artists from Shimane Prefecture]] [[Category:Japanese contemporary artists]] [[Category:Japanese sculptors]]