Chiemi Nobata
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Statement

Her work is driven by a deep curiosity about art materials. She remodels traditional Japanese Sumi ink herself through photosynthesis, oxidation, and other techniques. Her original Sumi ink allows the "black" Sumi ink to reveal hidden colours—blue, orange, purple, and more—layered together within each stroke. She pairs this Sumi ink with Washi paper, a traditional Japanese paper known for its sensitive absorption, which lets the Sumi ink bleed gracefully, creating soft transitions and natural textures. The final effect is shaped by various factors: the way she drips the ink onto the paper, the specific components within the paper, the water content, the drying conditions, and the layering technique used in the painting.

She begins painting free from preconceived ideas, allowing an open dialogue between herself and the materials. This approach liberates the medium from her operation and can show genuine potential. She observes closely as the Sumi ink spreads, bleeds, and dries on the Washi paper, witnessing the transformation of shapes, colours, compositions, and spatial dynamics. This ongoing process of letting the materials evolve naturally imbues each piece with a sense of meaning that emerges organically, as if the painting itself has something to communicate.

Her approach is intuitive yet grounded; she values the logical purpose behind each material expression, ensuring that the medium is essential to the message. While titling her works, she adopts an objective and reflective perspective, drawing inspiration from daily thoughts, philosophical musings, and personal reflections. In this way, each title serves as a final layer of expression, bringing the work to completion.

Her art invites viewers to reflect on their existence, behaviours, and perspectives on the world around them. She senses a need for this introspection, observing how modern society often feels clouded by an overwhelming fog of information. Through abstract painting, she believes viewers can find a tool to perceive reality from new and varied angles, offering a pause from the relentless data flow. Her work aims to open pathways for deeper understanding, fostering a renewed awareness of beauty and complexity in everyday life.

Since around 2021, alongside her painting practice, she has also been creating craft works. Using ink made through her distinctive technique, she paints abstract images on Japanese washi paper. These are then coated with a protective plastic layer and crafted into various items, including pouches, wallets, bags, acrylic stands, bookmarks, and more. In 2025, she launches her brand atelier noba, with the aim of offering products that enrich daily life with an original, quality item, bringing together painting, craftsmanship, and material exploration in a seamless blend of art and utility.

2025 20th of July

Bibliography

 Lives in Switzerland 2025 - 
 in Japan 2019 - 2025
 in England 2017 - 2019
 in Japan 1995 - 2017

 atelier noba 2025 -

Permanent Collection
 ‘Inner Thoughts' Museo d'Arte di Chianciano Terme, Chianciano Terme, IT 2022 (Permanent Collection)

Award
 ‘14th ABSTRACT International Juried Art Competition’ TERAVARNA 2025 (Finalist)
 ‘Different Kyomachibori Art Fair 2024’ JIKAN space 2024 (Jury Awarded)
 ‘YICCA 2023 - Final Exhibition’ YICCA 2023 (Finalist)
 ‘see some scene’ GALLERY IRO 2023 (Finalist)
 ‘The Final Round Exhibition of Gakuseisenbatsuten 2021’ Gallery Binosha 2021 (Second Place)

Solo Exhibition
 ‘Thoughtscape’ GALLERY IRO, Tokyo, JP 1 - 10 September 2023
 ‘Contemplation’ Gallery Binosha, Tokyo, JP 12 - 17 April 2022
 ‘Chiemi Nobata’ epulor, Tokyo, JP 11 - 29 February 2020

Group Exhibition
 
‘THE SPECE BETWEEN’, Laurent Marthaler Contemporary, Montreux, CH 9 October - 9 November 2025
 ‘Restless’ Online Exhibition, Domio Gallery, London, UK 22 August - 24 September 2025
 ‘Small Paintings’ GALLERY IRO, Tokyo, JP 1 - 17 August 2025
 ‘Kai / Kou / Kai / Seki ⅱ’ THE blank GALLERY, Tokyo, JP 25 January - 11 February 2025
 ‘Anonymous Drawings 2024’ Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin, DE 16 November 2024 - 12 January 2025
 ‘Different Kyomachibori Art Fair 2024’ JIKAN space, Osaka, JP 2 - 4 November 2024 (Jury Award)
 ‘RAW and PRIMITIVE 2024’ THE blank GALLERY, Tokyo, JP 15 - 30 June 2024
 ‘ACT ART AWARD 2024’ The Artcomplex Center of Tokyo, Tokyo, JP 4 - 7 April 2024
 ‘CROSS OVER Vol.46’ Gallery Philosophie, Seoul, KR 4 - 10 March 2024
 ‘The Full Moon Night Market’ Creative Space Fusion, Tokyo, JP 29 September 2023
 ‘Small Paintings’ GALLERY IRO, Tokyo, JP 15 - 23 July 2023
 ‘Text-ure 2023’ CICA Museum, Gimpo-si, KR 12 - 30 July 2023
 ‘YICCA 2023 - Final Exhibition’ IMAGOARS, Venice, IT 3 - 17 June 2023 (Finalist)
 ‘CROSS OVER Vol.43’ Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, Shek Kip Mei, HK 24 - 30 May 2023
 ‘see some scene’ GALLERY IRO, Tokyo, JP 21 - 30 April 2023 (First Place)
 ‘Merry Christmas & Happy new year!’ Gallery Binosha, Tokyo, JP 20 - 25 December 2022
 ‘The 57th Kanagawaken Bijutsuten’ Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Kanagawa, JP 7 - 18 September 2022
                                                    Atsugi City Bunkakaikan, Kanagawa, JP 5 - 10 October 2022
 ‘Chianciano Biennale 2022’ Clancianum Galleries, Chianciano Terme, IT 6 - 28 August 2022 (Permanent Collection)
 ‘The Final Round Exhibition of Gakuseisenbatsuten 2021’ Gallery Binosha, Tokyo, JP 5 - 10 October 2021 (Second Place)
 ‘Flourescent’ Virtual Exhibition, Capital Culture House, Madrid, ESP 5 - 15 August 2021
 ‘The Artworks Draw You in and Impress on Your Mind’ MarCafe, Kyoto, JP 1 - 30 June 2021
 ‘The Philosophical Artworks’ Casie Gallery, Kyoto, JP 6 - 31 May 2021

Pop-up shop  atelier noba
 
GALLERY IRO, Tokyo, JP 17 Aug 2025

Collaboration
 ‘Fragmentary Relations’ Graduation Art Work of Florian Kuhn, The Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Munich, DE 10 - 14 February 2023
 WOWOW TV drama series「0.5の男」Illustration for the script book 2022

Publication
 ‘WE CONTEMPORARY 2022’ MUSA International, Roma, IT 4 November 2022

Education
 BA, Fine Art, Arts University Bournemouth, Bournemouth, UK 2018 - 19 (Completed 1st year)
 FdA, Kings Education, London, UK 2017 - 18

Other
 Sakuragaoka Nobata Painting School 2022 - 2023
 Art Forum Total College, Assistant Teacher 2020 - 2023
I will consider any projects, collaborations and exhibitions, feel free to contact through email.

制作依頼、コラボレーション、展示会などはお気軽にメールにてお気軽にお問い合わせください。
Chiemi Nobata / 野畑 千絵美 [email protected]

atelier noba / アトリエ ノバ  [email protected]

Picture



copyright ©️2026 Chiemi Nobata
  • Home
  • Painting
  • Exhibition
  • atelier noba
  • About
    • Statement / Bibliography
    • ステートメント / 活動歴
    • Saatchi Art
    • Experimentation