Hiromi Aoki

Artist Statement

My drawings grow out of a deeply personal relationship with emotion, memory, and stillness. I began drawing at the age of 19 as a way to escape the difficulties of an unstable home environment, and those quiet moments gradually became a source of peace and resilience. Working primarily with a 0.3mm pen, I create intricate compositions from tens of thousands of individual dots. For me, drawing is an extension of my body, a way of expressing feelings and inner states that cannot always be put into words.

The repetition of each mark creates a meditative process that I think of as a personal form of prayer. My work explores quietude, vulnerability, and the strength found in continuing forward. Experiences in my own life, as well as my involvement in supporting people living with rare diseases, have deepened my desire to create work that connects with others on a human level. I hope my drawings offer viewers a moment to pause, feel, and perhaps find a sense of recognition or comfort.  www.HiromiAoki.com

Biography

Hiromi Aoki is an artist based in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, known for her intricate drawings created primarily with a 0.3mm pen. Composed of tens of thousands of individual dots, her works reflect a delicate yet powerful visual language rooted in emotion, stillness, and resilience. Growing up in a difficult home environment, she began drawing at the age of 19 as a means of escaping emotional hardship. What began as a private refuge gradually developed into her artistic practice.

Aoki began exhibiting her work in 2021 and has since held five solo exhibitions, with her work shown throughout Japan and internationally. Her exhibitions include Hōryū-ji Temple in Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as galleries and museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, New York, and Manchester. In April 2025, she exhibited in New York, marking an important moment in her artistic career, and in August 2025 she signed a full agency representation contract with Viridian Artists in New York.

Her work has received international recognition, including the Artistic Merit Award from the Luxembourg Art Prize in 2023, Second Prize at Art Incubation NY 2024, and selection as one of the “Top 100 Artists of the World” at the Times Square Art Event in New York. In 2025, she received the Grand Gold Prize in Art at JAPAN WEEK in Manchester. Alongside her artistic career, Aoki has been involved in advocacy and support activities for people living with rare diseases, including ALS and Epidermolysis Bullosa. These experiences continue to inform her commitment to creating work that encourages connection and offers a quiet sense of hope.