Asako Shimizu is a Japan-based professional photographer born in 1969 in Tokyo and currently resides in Kanagawa. She worked in a Japanese publishing company called “Magazine House” as a staff photographer until 2007 after graduating from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Photography in 1993. In 2006, the series “On Her Skin” received an award from New Cosmos Photography, sponsored by Canon, by judge Mr Nanjo Fumio, a predecessor chief director of Mori Museum. Her interest lies in representing that it combines the invisible, such as consciousness and thought, and the visible, such as society and the environment. She incorporates inspiration from the philosophical spirit specific to the Asian region into her work. The photographing process ties “Coincidences in photographing” mixed with her idea.

Chronology

1969 Born in Tokyo 
1993 Graduated from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Photography
1993~2007 Worked for publishing company Magazine House
2019 Creative artist residency centre Arteles (Haukijärvi) in Finland
Currently Lives in Kanagawa

Publications

2020「Finding A Pearly Light」kukui books

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2009 "On Her Skin" Wada Gallery
2010 "Infinity" Wada Gallery, Tokyo
2013 "On Her Skin" NextLevel Galerie, Paris, France
2014 "Finding You There" Sony Imaging Gallery Ginza, Tokyo
2015 "Storyteller" NextLevel Galerie, Paris, France
2017 "Portraits without a Face" Leica Professional Store Tokyo, Japan
2021 "Finding a Pearly Light" Morioka Shoten, Tokyo
2021 "Towards the Sky, Towards the Earth" Leica GINZASIX, Tokyo 
2022 "Silence Awareness Existence" Gallery HANA Shimokitazawa Tokyo

Selected Group Exhibitions

2007 Canon New Cosmos of Photography 2006 Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
2009 ArtToronto, Canada
2010 Scope New York, USA
2013 DGSM Print Seven Photographers, Gallery EM Nishiazabu, Japan
2013 Unseen Photo Fair, Amsterdam Netherlands
2014 Perrier-Jouet x Asako Shimizu, Andaz Tokyo, Japan
2014 Unseen Photo Fair, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015 'Another Room', IMA Concept Store, Tokyo
2015 'Regards de femmes' Maison Folie, Mons Belgium
2020 First book fair 'Finding A Pearly Light' (kukui books), Ginza Tsutaya, Tokyo
2021 Junko Nagano and Asako Shimizu duo exhibition 'Infinity', Gallery HANA, Shimokitazawa
2021 'My Friend - A Story of a Photographer and a Beloved Being' Sony Imaging Gallery Ginza
2021 'Photographing the Clinic' - HOTCHI's Lodge Clinic, Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan
2022 'Living there / Sokokoko-no-Kurashi' exhibition produced by Sakurashinmachi Urban Clinic Japan Association for Home Healthcare Conference

Awards

2006 Canon New Cosmos of Photography Excellence Prize ; selected by Fumio Nanjo, Director of Mori Art Museum) "On Her Skin”

Books from Asako SHIMIZU

Prints from Asako SHIMIZU