Hello, my name is Kosuke. I was born in Japan and have been a New York-based artist since 2011. I’ve recently finished a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from Pratt Institute and have been a working artist at The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts studio program since 2021. Having studied graphic design at Okayama Prefectural University (Japan), my interest then turned to painting and drawing, which I taught myself. This background gives me special insight into how environment and an active learning approach impact the growth of art students.

What I love about visual art is that it’s an intuitive language with which you can convey emotions you otherwise cannot verbalize. For me, non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication, if not even more nuanced through the use of a variety of creative practices. I believe everyone has the potential to be an artist. Let’s discover it! I look forward to meeting you and growing with you here at Artuta!

To me, art education is about sharing the process of art making—as well as my life experiences—through interactive communication. No one can teach art because art is personal; yet exchanging our different outlooks, wisdom and sensibilities enable us to define for ourselves what makes us unique. Teaching kids is particularly rewarding because, while students benefit from my techniques and experience as a working artist, I am in awe of their fresh ideas and sensitivity.

Instead of, “being taught,” I would like students to absorb. Learning art is very stimulating! All the techniques, concepts and ideas surrounding art production are exciting, but it’s also about the process of overcoming challenges, applying patience to oneself while one grows and looking at what it means to make a “mistake.” Making art is making choices and so it’s a perfect vehicle for reflecting on one’s decision-making process. At Artuta, students always have a choice in how to follow the lesson plan—or whether to follow it at all! Cultivating one’s own expression takes time, but the skills gained will be valuable for a lifetime.