23/04/2026
Shigeo Toya – Notice of Passing
Shigeo Toya passed away on April 15, 2026, at a hospital in Tokyo due to pneumonia, at the age of 78. We hereby express our deepest condolences.
Toya was born in Nagano Prefecture in 1947. He studied at Aichi University of the Arts, and from the 1970s onward developed a distinctive practice that sought to reconstruct “sculpture” after its once deconstructed state. His “Woods” series, begun in 1984, presented new possibilities for sculpture through an unprecedented method of carving wood with a chainsaw, and received high international acclaim.
His works were exhibited at the Japan Pavilion of the Venice Biennale (1988), the Asia Pacific Triennial (1993), and the Gwangju Biennale (2000), among others. His large-scale solo exhibitions at the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum and The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama (2022–23) reaffirmed his significant position in the history of contemporary sculpture in Japan.
It has been a great honor and an immense pleasure for ShugoArts to have worked with Toya through numerous solo and group exhibitions over the years. I first met him some forty years ago, when I began assisting at Satani Gallery, run by my father Kazuhiko, at a time when I still found sculpture difficult to approach. Since then, at various moments, he has continued to teach me many things —from innovations in sculptural practice to the depth of craftsmanship, as well as its social and historical dimensions. The strength and depth of his love for sculpture were truly remarkable. His attitude toward making was rigorous, yet accompanied by a rare and profound kindness.
While tracing the very roots of artistic expression, Toya persistently questioned what sculpture could be in the present, continually reflecting on the nature of the world and human existence, and striving to embody these inquiries in his work. His stance will remain an irreplaceable guide for us.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his kindness and support during his lifetime, and sincerely pray for his peaceful repose. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported Toya’s work over the years.
ShugoArts
Shugo Satani
