Makiko Berry is a contemporary Japanese-style painter, born in 1975 in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. Her early years were shaped by a deep connection to nature, which continues to influence her work today. She graduated from the Japanese-style painting course at Seian University of Art and Design in 1998 and spent a decade in the United States, where she worked as a fellow in the Asian Art Conservation Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and interned with Josephine Press in California in 2008.

Berry’s artwork is characterized by its introspective and sensory approach. She often begins her paintings without a predetermined concept, allowing her emotions, memories, and experiences to guide the creative process. This results in works that are rich in texture and depth, reflecting her personal journey and connection to the natural world. Her paintings frequently depict “paths” or “roads,” symbolizing the journey of life and the interplay between nature, memory, and identity.

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Berry is dedicated to art education. She leads the “Nobinavi Art” program, which nurtures the creative sensibilities of children and teenagers, and is involved in various community art projects in Kyoto. She is currently a part-time lecturer at Kyoto University of Arts and Kyoto College of Design and Technology.

Solo and group exhibitions

She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Japan and overseas. In recent years, she has been featured in “Daily Life of Yesteryear” at Gallery PARC in Kyoto from December 2, 2023, to January 8, 2024, where she also conducted workshops engaging participants in hands-on artistic activities. Additional exhibitions include “Mino Real” (Amano Gallery, Osaka) in 2021 and “Wind, Earth and Berry Vol. 1 ~yorisoi~” (Murata Gallery, Kyoto) in 2020.

Awards

• 2021 and 2024: Selected for the “8th and 9th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Japanese Painting Grand Prize”
• 2016: Excellence Award winner at the “2nd Art Bunkyo Exhibition Contemporary Plane ~Light and Form~”
• 2012: Grand Prize winner at the “4th Kyoto New Japanese Painting Exhibition”

Public collections

Her works are held by the Omishima Museum of Art, Imabari City, the West Japan Railway Company, and the Kameoka City Cultural Museum, among others.