Yamada’s New York Debut Explores Pop Legacy and Artistic Identity

My Screen Tests, the first New York solo exhibition by Japanese artist Kohei Yamada, from May 15 to June 14, 2026 at GR gallery. The presentation introduces a new series of paintings on canvas, each accompanied by preparatory sketches, that collectively examine the evolving relationship between artist and artwork in a contemporary, globally mediated art world.

At the core of the exhibition is Yamada’s engagement with the legacy of American Pop art, particularly the influence of Andy Warhol. Drawing on motifs associated with Warhol’s Silver Factory era and its cultural milieu, Yamada situates his practice within a lineage that blurs the boundaries between artistic production and commercial culture. This reference framework becomes a vehicle for exploring tensions between historical prestige and the immediacy of pop expression—an interplay that underscores the exhibition’s broader inquiry into how art is perceived and valued today.

Kohei Yamada | Good ART is the Best Business (No. 1)
Acrylic, gold and platinum foil on canvas, 100 x 80.3 cm | 2025

Kohei Yamada | Esquisse for "Good ART is the Best Business"
Pencil, pen on paper, 30.9 cm x 21.8 cm | 2025

New York City itself functions as both subject and catalyst. Long regarded as a global art capital, the city provides a symbolic and physical backdrop through which Yamada investigates themes of nostalgia, identity, and cultural exchange. His work positions New York as a bridge between American and Japanese artistic traditions, reflecting his personal trajectory from early influences to a more complex engagement with international art history. Through this lens, the exhibition also highlights the artist’s ongoing dialogue with both Western and Japanese contemporaries.

Kohei Yamada | CIAO! MANHATTAN (FRAGILE)
Acrylic on canvas | 41 cm x 31.8 cm | 2025

Kohei Yamada | Esquisse for "CIAO! MANHATTAN"
Pencil and pen on paper | 30.9 cm x 21.8 cm | 2025

Formally, Yamada’s paintings combine abstraction and figuration with a deliberate emphasis on repetition and humor—hallmarks of the Pop tradition. These elements introduce a sense of wit and discipline, while also reinforcing the conceptual underpinnings of his practice. The city is treated as a stage populated by figures and references drawn from art history and popular culture, yet these characters ultimately resolve into projections of the artist’s own identity. Technically, the artist has experimented with both oil and acrylic media to achieve a flexible and expressive approach, employing techniques such as dripping and stippling. His process emphasizes careful planning, with detailed studies informing the final compositions on canvas. This method results in densely layered works that balance visual complexity with a strong sense of cohesion.

Kohei Yamada | The Pilgrim (No. 1)
Acrylic on canvas | 100 cm x 80.3 cm | 2026

Beyond its art historical references, My Screen Tests also advances a critical perspective on contemporary society. The works reflect on the normalization of deception and the pervasive influence of capitalist desire, while simultaneously expressing a persistent longing for freedom that remains elusive. In this sense, Yamada’s practice operates on both personal and systemic levels, interrogating not only the role of the artist but also the conditions under which art is produced and consumed.

Yamada, who is based in Japan and holds a master’s degree in painting from Hiroshima City University, builds his imagery from an introspective engagement with his inner self and alter ego. His visual language is marked by bold color, intricate patterning, and a hybrid aesthetic that incorporates elements of kawaii culture alongside street and pop influences. Figures in his paintings are carefully constructed with distinct personalities and narratives, recalling the character-driven worlds of manga and anime.