Detail: The original work of two juror-selected innovative and talented Japanese artists Akira Otsubo and Hideo Tanaka will be on display at Agora Gallery, NYC in The Chelsea International Fine Art Competition Exhibition.

About Akira Otsubo

Akira Otsubo’s photographs suggest shadows of humanity hovering in scenes of daily life. Blurred human figures shift in and out of desaturated rooms, with the simple textures of curtains or blank walls made more apparent in contrast to the blur of human action. Layers of memory appear ghostlike in manmade, sensitively lit interiors, whether as faint traces of human figures or almost solid bodies made anonymous and transient by a blur of motion.

Focusing on human psychology and the remnants of past generations, Otsubo takes her photographs in hotels in Japan, exploring the fluctuating human existence of a temporary space.

About Hideo Tanaka

Hideo Tanaka carefully merges the dream world with reality, echoing his own relationship between his two professions as a fine artist and an advertising Creative Director. His realistic figures find themselves in surreal worlds, whether this is depicted with the abstraction of the background or in their extraordinary circumstances. He explains his vision as the two sides of a man: the man faces toward you, toward reality, but behind him there is an imaginary, illogical dream world. Tanaka pulls these worlds together with a true technical mastery.

Tanaka works in Tokyo, and lives in Niza, Saitama.

About the Exhibition

The Exhibition of Selected Artwork from the 30th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition

Twenty-eight artists from eighteen countries are bringing their award-winning art to NYC to participate in the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition Exhibition. These artists were all selected by a jury of art experts for their vision and skill in their chosen fields. Incorporating photography, sculpture, painting, and mixed media, the artworks display unprecedented quality and mastery. This year marks the thirtieth year of the competition, and the international panel of seven jurors include curators, professors, appraisers, gallerists, and one museum president, bringing their unique art expertise to the selection process. It is no wonder, therefore, that the works chosen for the exhibition are comprised of such a skilled set of contemporary fine artists.

About Agora Gallery

Agora Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea’s fine art district in New York. Established in 1984, Agora Gallery specializes in connecting art dealers and collectors with national and international artists. The art gallery’s expert consultants are available to assist corporate and private clients in procuring original artwork to meet their organization’s specific needs and budget requirements. With a strong online presence and popular online gallery, ARTmine, coupled with the spacious and elegant physical gallery space, the work of our talented artists, who work in diverse media and styles, can receive the attention it deserves. Over the years Agora Gallery has sponsored and catered to special events aimed at fostering social awareness and promoting the use of art to help those in need.