osaka chika

Born in Tokyo in 1984, Osaka Chika still lives and works in her hometown. She earned a BA in painting and later completed an MA in printmaking at the Tokyo University of the Arts. Influenced by lithography master Takemi Azumaya, Osaka was drawn to metal plate lithography for its ability to showcase fine detail and colour fluidity. Additionally, she incorporates methods like embossing to add depth to her work. Her prints have appeared in exhibitions throughout Japan and in cities such as Munich, Bern, Taipei, and London.

While balancing both painting and printmaking, Osaka has built a strong presence in Japan’s art world. She has won several national prizes and gained international attention through Hanga Ten, making her London debut in 2019. That same year, she won the Jerwood Printmaking Today Prize at the London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy. Her works—despite often being large in scale—are produced in small editions due to the intensive lithographic process. Her pieces are held in respected institutions, including the Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts in Tokyo and museums in Shanghai and Zhejiang.

Rather than begin with a sketch, Osaka starts each work by writing a sentence or short paragraph based on daily experiences. She then imagines scenes that bring these words to life, often featuring vibrant colours and expressive human figures. This unique process results in prints that are humorous, poetic, and emotionally resonant. At Hanga Ten, we are proud to present Osaka Chika's Japanese lithograph prints, which blend personal storytelling with contemporary printmaking expertise.