Koho Yamamoto

Koho Yamamoto is a master of Sumi e, the traditional Japanese art of ink painting. Her work is rooted in the discipline and philosophy of this centuries-old practice while reflecting a deeply personal approach to gesture, movement, and space.

Working primarily with black ink, Yamamoto creates compositions that range from minimal abstractions to expressive landscapes. Subtle shifts in tone and brush movement give her paintings a remarkable sense of atmosphere and emotion. With an economy of means, a single gesture can suggest movement, stillness, or an entire landscape.

In her later work, Yamamoto moved increasingly toward abstraction while preserving the meditative spirit at the heart of Sumi e. Bold forms and spontaneous gestures explore the relationship between presence and emptiness. As Yamamoto has said, “My paintings come from nothingness.” Her work brings tradition and abstraction into conversation, allowing the simplicity of ink and gesture to become a powerful form of expression.