Lehmann Maupin Gallery will present the first New York solo exhibition of the artist Rei Sato. Her seemingly childlike approach to painting and drawing provides an insight into feminine identity and perspective in Japan through the usage of simple figurative forms, bold compositions and expressive color. She will also present Senzai Midori, a very personal performance around her family’s café in Tokyo.

For this exhibition, Rei Sato will present a new series of paintings, drawings and photographs influenced by ‘cuteness’ or what is known in Japan as ‘kawaii.’ Sato’s process begins with taking chance photographs of the ordinary like a parked car, a grassy plain along the highway or a cracked sidewalk. These are then printed onto a canvas and Sato superimposes images of children, butterflies and furry animals into the scenery with watercolor and line drawing. Sato communicates a form of escapism by removing the everyday through this series of manipulations. For the performances, Sato will serve coffee in the gallery as well as make paintings and drawings.