Ulala Imai
Ulala Imai, born in 1982 in Kanagawa, Japan, is a third-generation artist whose vibrant oil paintings transform everyday objects into enigmatic, intimate scenes. Working from her home, Imai draws inspiration from her familial life and popular culture, infusing still lifes, portraits, and landscapes with a sense of narrative depth. Her subjects—children’s toys, household foods like buttered toast, and pop culture icons such as Charlie Brown or Chewbacca—are rendered with minimal, deft brushstrokes, creating luminous, slightly out-of-focus images that evoke universal human emotions.
A graduate of Tama Art University (BFA, 2004; Doctoral Program, 2009), Imai’s practice is deeply influenced by Western painting traditions, particularly Édouard Manet’s pragmatic realism, which she encountered during childhood visits to European museums. Her work, described as “delicious” and optimistic, celebrates the multilayered simplicity of daily life while exploring subtle interpersonal dynamics. Imai’s paintings are held in prestigious collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Dallas Museum of Art, and He Art Museum in Guangdong, China. She continues to live and work in Kanagawa, Japan, where her domestic environment remains a core source of creative inspiration
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Ulala ImaiNOCTURNE, 2024Oil on canvas63 3/4 x 51 1/4 in
162 x 130.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiOFFERING, 2024Oil on canvas20 7/8 x 17 7/8 in
53 x 45.5 cm -
Ulala ImaiLOVERS, 2024Oil on canvas76 3/8 x 51 1/4 in
194 x 130.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiGATHERING, 2024Oil on canvas51 1/4 x 76 3/8 in
130.3 x 194 cm -
Ulala ImaiVINCENT VAN DOG, 2024Oil on canvas76 3/8 x 63 3/4 in
194 x 162 cm -
Ulala ImaiARCADIA, 2024Oil on canvas102 x 76 3/8 in
259 x 194 cm -
Ulala ImaiSPA, 2024Oil on canvas25 5/8 x 31 5/8 in
65.2 x 80.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiTOAST, 2024Oil on canvas8 5/8 x 10 3/4 in
22 x 27.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiPURPLE, 2024Oil on canvas8 5/8 x 10 3/4 in
22 x 27.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiBREAKFAST, 2024Oil on canvas9 1/2 x 13 1/8 in
24.2 x 33.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiPEACHES, 2024Oil on canvas9 1/2 x 13 1/8 in
24.2 x 33.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiFRUITS, 2024Oil on canvas15 x 17 7/8 in
38 x 45.5 cm -
Ulala ImaiGENESIS, 2024Oil on canvas35 7/8 x 25 5/8 in
91 x 65.2 cm -
Ulala ImaiFIREMAN, 2024Oil on canvas25 5/8 x 35 7/8 in
65.2 x 91 cm -
Ulala ImaiMUSCAT, 2024Oil on canvas6 1/4 x 9 in
15.8 x 22.7 cm -
Ulala ImaiPOTATO, 2024Oil on canvas6 1/4 x 9 in
15.8 x 22.7 cm -
Ulala ImaiArchaeologist, 2024Oil on canvasThree parts:
194 x 162 cm (76 3/8 x 63 3/4 in)
194 cm x 259 (76 3/8 in x 102 in)
194 x 162 cm (76 3/8 x 63 3/4 in) -
Ulala ImaiKOALA, 2024Oil on canvas13 1/8 x 9 1/2 in
33.3 x 24.2 cm -
Ulala ImaiEncounter, 2023Oil on canvasTwo parts; 76 3/8 x 102 in each (194 x 259 cm each)
152 3/4 x 102 in overall (388 x 259 cm overall) -
Ulala ImaiAfterschool, 2023Oil on canvas76 3/8 x 51 1/4 in
194 x 130.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiFLOWERS, 2023Oil on canvas19 3/4 x 23 7/8 in
50 x 60.6 cm -
Ulala ImaiBreakfast, 2022Oil on canvas8 3/4 x 10 7/8 x 3/4 in
22.3 x 27.5 x 1.9 cm -
Ulala ImaiHome, 2022Oil on canvas, three panels76 3/8 x 204 5/8 in
194 x 519.6 cm -
Ulala ImaiKing, 2022Oil on canvas76 3/8 x 63 3/4 in
194 x 162 cm -
Ulala ImaiEnd of Summer (Gate), 2022Oil on canvas102 x 76 3/8 in
259 x 194 cm -
Ulala ImaiAmbassador, 2022oil on canvas46 x 35 7/8 in
116.7 x 91 cm -
Ulala ImaiDessert, 2022Oil on canvas.28 5/8 x 23 7/8 x 1 in
72.7 x 60.6 x 2.5 cm -
Ulala ImaiThe Summit, 2021Oil on canvas. Three conjoined panels.81-5/8 x 218-3/8 inches, overall
207.33 x 554.67 cm, overall -
Ulala ImaiCare, 2021Oil on canvas102 x 76 3/8 in.
259 x 194 cm. -
Ulala ImaiGathering, 2021Oil on canvas, two panels.102 x 152 3/4 in, overall
259 x 388 cm, overall -
Ulala ImaiOysters, 2021Oil on canvas9 1/2 x 13 1/8 x 3/4 in
24.1 x 33.3 x 2 cm -
Ulala ImaiFromages, 2021Oil on canvas15 x 17 7/8 x 3/4 in
38.1 x 45.4 x 2 cm -
Ulala ImaiWaiting, 2021Oil on canvas28 5/8 x 23 7/8 in
72.7 x 60.6 cm -
Ulala ImaiBreakfast, 2020Oil on canvas.16 1/4 x 12 5/8 x 3/4 in
41.2 x 32 x 2 cm -
Ulala ImaiMelody, 2020Oil on canvas.38 1/4 x 57 1/4 x 1 1/8 in
97 x 145.5 x 3 cm -
Ulala ImaiDistance, 2020Oil on canvas, diptych.51 3/8 x 63 3/4 x 1 1/8 in, each
130.5 x 162 x 3 cm, each -
Ulala ImaiSummit, 2020Oil on canvas71 5/8 x 89 1/2 in
181.8 x 227.3 cm -
Ulala ImaiHold, 2020Oil on canvas.23 7/8 x 27 5/8 x 1 in
60.6 x 70.3 x 2.5 cm
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ULALA IMAI
ARCADIA October 30 - December 21, 2024Opening reception: Wednesday, October 30, 16:00 - 20:00 Nonaka-Hill is proud to present ARCADIA , an exhibition of new paintings by Ulala Imai, to inaugurate our new gallery space located...Read more -
Natsuyasumi
In the Beginning Was Love July 28 - September 11, 2021Press: Art Viewer , August 23, 2021 Hyperallergic , August 10, 2021 Nonaka-Hill is honored to present Natsuyasumi: In the Beginning Was Love. A group exhibition with the ideals of...Read more -
Ulala Imai
AMAZING February 6 - April 3, 2021Press: Hyperallergic , March 27, 2021 Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles (Carla ) : March 17, 2021 Contemporary Art Daily : March 15, 2021 artillery , March 10, 2021 Special...Read more
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FRIEZE LOS ANGELES
February 29 - March 3, 2024Thursday Preview, February 29 (invitation only): 10am – 7pm Friday Preview, March 1 : 11am – 7pm Saturday, March 2 : 11am – 7pm Sunday,...Read more -
FOG Design+Art
Nonaka-Hill & Ratio 3 January 19 - 22, 2023Nonaka-Hill and Ratio 3 are pleased to present a joint booth. Nonaka-Hill is exhibiting the sculptural ceramics of Hosai Matsubayashi XVI and Masaomi Yasunaga with...Read more -
Art Collaboration Kyoto
Nonaka-Hill collaboration with Shibunkaku November 18 - 20, 2022Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK) is an art fair held in Kyoto under the theme of “contemporary art and collaboration.” It is one of the largest...Read more -
Felix Art Fair
February 17 - 20, 2022Room 117 Felix is a contemporary art fair co-founded by Dean Valentine, Al Morán, and Mills Morán. The fourth edition of the fair will take...Read more -
Art Basel Miami Beach
December 2 - 4, 2021Booth: Position Sector, Booth P18 We're excited to announce that we will be presenting a solo-booth presentation with the artist Ulala Imai. Opening Hours: Private...Read more