Different Kyomachibori Art Fair 2026: Call for Artists! Application Deadline: Monday, August 10, 2026
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
This annual art fair takes place in Kyomachibori, a creative district in Osaka’s Nishi Ward that serves as a hub for independent companies across a wide range of genres.
Under the theme of “the city supporting talented creators,” the event features a diverse panel of judges from various fields, including entrepreneurs, gallery owners, curators, art directors, and art influencers.
Judges also participate from Shenzhen, China, and Bangkok, Thailand. Award-winning creators will have the opportunity to showcase their work across Asia.
The fair’s title, “Different,” was chosen to embody our determination to discover talent that is “differently unique.” While rooted in the local community, our vision is global. We offer numerous opportunities to support creators’ talents. We invite applications from creators with exceptional talent, regardless of age, nationality, gender, or genre.
Deadline
Monday, August 10, 2025 Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM
Awards
● Physical Exhibition (50 artists planned): Exhibition of works
● Jury Award (multiple recipients): Purchase of works, proposals for exhibitions or collaborations
[Online Reviews]
The Art Fair Secretariat will publish reviews of all applicants’ works and statements on the dedicated page of the official website.
Each juror will recommend five artists, and reviews from the jurors will be published.
Call for Entries
Exhibiting Artists for “Different Kyomachibori Art Fair 2025”
*No restrictions on genre or format: 2D, 3D, video, contemporary art, illustration, photography, graphic design, performance, etc.
*Past works are also eligible for submission
Apply here
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates
Last year’s Different Kyomachibori Art Fair MAP
Scenes from the Different Kyomachibori Art Fair 2025
[Event Overview]
Dates: October 31 (Sat) – November 3 (Tue, Holiday), 2026 (4 days)
Venue: Over 10 venues in the Kyomachibori area of Nishi Ward, Osaka City (tentative)
Submission Requirements
● Personal background
● Description of your artistic activities and works
● Images of your work
*Recommended resolution: 1000 pixels or higher
*File size: 2MB or less (1–2MB recommended)
● Image of your student ID (students only)
How to Apply
Via the application form on the official website
Eligibility
A parental consent form is required for applicants under 18 years of age
Participation Fee
General: 8,800 yen (tax included); Students: 4,400 yen (tax included)
A diverse panel of judges will review all submitted entries and select the creators to participate in the fair.
Judges
● Contemporary Art, Painting, Sculpture
Toshikazu Iura (Representative, AaP/roidworksgallery / Executive Producer, “On the Eve of Breakthrough: Artists of the Next Generation”)
Naoko Kinoshita (Art Buyer, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd.)
Yukitaka Sato (Owner, Director, and Artist, THE blank GALLERY)
Kiyotaka Takamizawa (Director, Takamizawa Art Project)
Kentaro Notomi (Exhibition Director, Tsutaya Bookstore Kyoto)
Kenji Tokumitsu (President and CEO, Tagboat Co., Ltd.)
Hiroshi Murakami (Representative, Funidea Inc. / Gallerist, Artas Gallery & Gallery Nekochikura)
●Illustration, Pop Culture, Photography
Tsuyoshi Iinuma (Director, OFF THE RECORD)
Makoto Ikeda (Curator, Founder of YOU WANT SOME)
Kenzo Ishiyama (Representative Director, Ken Elephant Co., Ltd.)
Yoshihiro Taniguchi (Representative, Chigunitta Co., Ltd.)
Hiroaki Shono (Representative Director, UbiS Co., Ltd.; Representative Director, Vision Track Ltd.)
Junzo Terada (Illustrator)
Takaharu Furutani (Owner, TANK Bar & Café)
Tomohiro Mizuno (Representative, N ART / Curator, Creative Director / Founder, TURFLINE)
Hiro Sugiyama (Artist, Art Director / Representative, Enlightenment)
●Crafts, Artisanship, and Three-Dimensional Art
Tsutomu Kanaya (President and CEO, Creative Director, Cement Produce Design Co., Ltd.)
Shigeki Hattori (Representative, graf / Professor, Faculty of Art, Kyoto University of the Arts)
●Video, Performance, Web, Advertising, and Multimedia
Shusaku Kaji (Representative, JIKAN Design Co., Ltd. / Artist)
Satoshi Kawaguchi (Representative, ZIZO Co., Ltd.)
Shiboru Yamane (Representative, Ningen Co., Ltd. / Idea Man)
Hiroki Morishita (Representative, W.R. Co., Ltd. / Creative Director)
Takahiro Hisaoka (Representative, parks Co., Ltd. / Copywriter)
Takanori Yoshida (Representative, BYTHREE Co., Ltd. / Creative Director)
Masashi Onoda (Hankyu Hanshin Marketing Solutions Co., Ltd.)
Kaz Shiomi (Representative Director, Kukkia Co., Ltd. / Creative Director)
Shinjiro Takeuchi (Representative, TOMBO INC. / Art Director, Designer)
●Asia Relations
Eric Zhu (Shenzhen Fringe Art Center: Art Director, Shenzhen, China)
Kanoknuch Sillapawisawakul (DEXEMBELL) (Founder, PRACTICAL Design Studio, Bangkok, Thailand)
●Announcement of Results
[Physical Exhibition]
To be announced on the official website in early September 2026
[Jury Award]
Scheduled to be announced on November 2
We will announce the Judges' Award during the fair and support creators through initiatives such as exhibitions and corporate collaborations.
● Information Session: Portfolio Review
We will be holding information sessions—both online and in person—for creators considering participating in the fair. (Free to attend) Please note that guest speakers and reviewers are subject to change.
Click here to register
●Schedule
May 15 (Fri) 7:00 PM – Online Guest: Hiroshi Murakami
May 22 (Fri) 7:00 PM – Ken Elephant Headquarters (Kanda Sarugakucho, Tokyo)
Reviewers: Kenzo Ishiyama, Hiroki Morishita
May 30 (Sat) 3:00 PM – “ART BOOK OSAKA 2026” Venue (Osaka Port)
Talk Event Guests: Shinjiro Takeuchi, Kaz Shiomi (No portfolio reviews)
June 5 (Fri) 7:00 PM – off the record (Kakuozan, Nagoya; one-drink minimum)
Reviewers: Tsuyoshi Iinuma
June 7 (Sun) 7:00 PM – Online
June 12 (Fri) 7:00 PM – TAGS June 17 (Fri) 7:00 PM – Guest: Hiroshi Murakami
June 20 (Sun) 1:00 PM – Online (Times listed are Japan Standard Time)
Information Session for International Artists
Guest: Kanoknuch Sillapawisawakul
June 26 (Fri) 7:00 PM – CASA ZIZO (Gaienmae, Tokyo; one-drink minimum)
Reviewers: Naoko Kinoshita, Hiroki Morishita, Satoshi Kawaguchi
July 4 (Fri) 7:00 PM – Online
July 18 (Sat) 4:00 PM – VINYL Underground (Minami-Senba, Osaka; one-drink minimum)
Reviewers: Junzo Terada
July 31 (Sat) 4:00 PM – VINYL Underground (Minami-Senba, Osaka; one-drink minimum)
Reviewers: Tomohiro Mizuno, Junzo Terada
August 4 (Sat) 3:00 PM – Online Guest: Hiroshi Murakami
Comments