Biography
Naoto Kumagai (b. 1978, Tokyo) builds paintings from layered colour and quiet tension. He trained at Tokyo University of the Arts, and a residency in Berlin from 2007 to 2009 gave his abstract practice new depth.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Kumagai’s early environment shaped his initial creative perspective. This stage marks the period before his formal entry into the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1999.
Entering the Department of Painting in 1999, Kumagai developed his technical mastery of oil and acrylic on canvas, graduating in 2003.
In 2005, he co-founded the artist group "Stump," followed by Gallery Stump Kamakura in 2006, establishing himself as a central figure in the local art scene.
Between 2007 and 2009, Kumagai lived and worked in Berlin. This international exposure introduced new depths and perspectives to his abstract practice.
Completing his Ph.D. in 2011 at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Kumagai reached a level of professional maturity, solidifying his unique visual language.
