Keita Morimoto | “Fading Moments” | LONG STORY SHORT Paris

Press release

Long Story Short is deeply honored to welcome, for the very first time in France, the extraordinary Japanese painter Keita Morimoto. Already enjoying immense renown in his homeland, his debut exhibition in France promises to be nothing short of spectacular. The young Parisian gallery will have the privilege of showcasing his stunning works just as the Art Basel Paris fair unfolds in the capital.

“In this body of work, I find myself painting the spaces between moments—the nighttime walks, solitary figures waiting in train stations, the hushed exchanges in bars, the quiet of diners just before dawn. These scenes are about capturing the fragments of life that often go unnoticed, filled with a sense of mystery and anticipation, like a pause before something shifts. My work is a blend of old and new, the brushstrokes moving through layers of memory while embracing the uncertainties of the present.

The streets of Tokyo are my backdrop, but they are not the focal point. Instead, my interest lies in the stories that linger in these places—fleeting encounters, brief moments of connection that disappear as quickly as they arrive. I draw inspiration from noir films, the evocative solitude of Hopper’s cityscapes, and the light and darkness found in Dutch Golden Age paintings, blending them together to create something that feels both nostalgic and unexpectedly current.

The balance between light and shadow is always present, a reminder of how familiar things can suddenly become strange, like catching an unexpected glimpse of oneself and feeling like a stranger. My work isn’t about depicting reality as it is; rather, it’s about capturing the feeling of being slightly out of sync with it—the moments where clarity fades into ambiguity, and ordinary life takes on a sense of the extraordinary. Through my paintings, I hope to invite viewers into these suspended moments, to see their world anew, finding beauty and significance in the quiet corners that are so often overlooked.” - Keita Morimoto