Tyler Park Presents is pleased to announce Walking Around, the first solo exhibition in Los Angeles for New York-based artist Masamitsu Shigeta. The exhibition will open on May 21, 2022, and be on view until June 25, 2022.

Shigeta’s anti-pastoral landscapes depict nature and architecture within New York City through a range of subjects. Depending on the day he may pass the Navy Yards to help as an artist’s assistant, at NYU to teach students, or the Lower Eastside to visit Situations gallery. As the neighborhoods change on his commute, so does the architecture, landscaping, and light, but one thing stays consistent, people glued to their iPhone while they miss what Shigeta notices. A well-groomed tree contrasting with a building, a ferry leaving port rippling the waters, or geometric grids of construction materials standing guard of a tall stalk plant. He constantly records these moments on his daily commute with his iPhone to create a new reflection of what he has encountered.

Often starting small with painting on board, Shigeta approaches the reference materials as studies to explore new directions that are conjured later after reflection. His focus lies distinctly on symmetry and/or asymmetry, finding the geometry and light in places people walk past every day. As the work progresses into larger scales, he torques the conventions that make painting recognizable by shifting the medium towards sculpture, either by shaping his canvas or utilizing framing devices, often consisting of materials found around the city or recycling discarded materials found in his studio.

Masamitsu Shigeta (b. 1992, Tokyo, Japan) currently works in New York City. He holds an MFA at New York University and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts. Shigeta’s inaugural exhibition with SITUATIONS was held in Spring 2021 and was reviewed in The Brooklyn Rail. He has been in group shows at Chinatown Soup Gallery, NY and Tutu Gallery, NY.