Keiko Moriuchi

Keiko Moriuchi (b. 1943, Osaka, Japan) is a distinguished contemporary artist and the final member to join the Gutai Art Association, Japan's pioneering post-war avant-garde collective. At 81, Moriuchi remains an active force in contemporary art, and as one of the few surviving members of Gutai, she continues to carry forward the movement's spirit of experimentation and creative freedom. Her artistic journey began in the early 1960s while she was studying at Osaka Shoin Women's University. During this period, she was discovered by Jiro Yoshihara, the founder of Gutai, who invited her to join the group. In 1968, she became the last official member of Gutai before its dissolution in 1972. Moriuchi's work is characterized by richly layered surfaces imbued with symbolism drawn from myth and spirituality. She builds up her canvases with multiple layers of Liquitex paint, creating surfaces that take on a tactile, almost sculptural quality. Her signature use of gold leaf is not just an aesthetic choice but carries deeper significance - offering protection, purification, and an invitation for the viewer to engage with the work on a meditative level.