Ken Wada creates ink works that incorporate a full range of free-flowing painting techniques. An accomplished painter who often works in watercolor and gouache as well, Wada is interested in using the traditional medium of ink in innovative ways. He painted much of his recent work with raw tree limbs taken straight from his own garden.

Wada’s pieces are abstracts that depend on both spontaneity and control. The brushstrokes are quick, repeated, and easy, while the overall layout keeps them contained. The marks are alternately flattened and heightened to create tension. The composition is pared down but explores repetition and proportion in sophisticated ways. Pieces often only contain the stark contrasting tones of black and white, which interplay in ever more intricate designs.

Wada was born in Matudo, Japan, currently lives in Tokyo, and maintains a studio in Kitakaruizawa. He has exhibited in England, Japan, and extensively in France, where he lived for several years.