Paul Smith Presents:
What Fades
solo exhibition by Takura Suzuki
Friday 9th May – Monday July 7th
Paul Smith, 88 Wooster St, New York, NY 10012
In this exhibition, the artist explores the ephemeral nature and pervasive sense of emptiness that characterises contemporary society. Through a deliberate engagement with the overwhelming influx of information and imagery that saturates daily life—most of which is quickly consumed and forgotten—the artist reflects on the fleeting nature of modern visual culture.
Drawing upon the historical tradition of Garland Painting, the artist subverts its original intent by replacing sacred and timeless subjects with contemporary, mass-produced imagery. Traditionally, Garland Paintings adorned religious icons or esteemed figures with lush floral arrangements, emphasizing their inherent value. Here, however, the artist employs this classical composition to frame digital advertisements and ephemeral images, exposing their transient allure and superficial significance. While these subjects may initially appear vibrant and enticing, they ultimately serve as symbols of fleeting desires and hollow aspirations.
Furthermore, by situating these works alongside pieces that incorporate Vanitas themes—an artistic tradition that meditates on mortality, human vanity, and the impermanence of material existence—the artist deepens the exhibition’s meditation on transience and emptiness. The juxtaposition of past and present, sacred and mundane, compels the viewer to reconsider the visual and cultural values they unconsciously absorb.
Through this body of work, the artist not only critiques the contemporary cycle of consumption but also invites the audience to reflect on the impermanence of their own desires, encouraging a more conscious engagement with the imagery that shapes modern life.
Takura Suzuki
Takura Suzuki was born in 1996 in Tokyo and currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his BFA in Painting from Indiana University Bloomington in 2019 and his MFA in Visual Arts from Washington University in St. Louis in 2021.
Suzuki’s work explores the intersection of digital technology, visual culture, and contemporary human experience. Rooted in the tradition of vanitas painting, his work contemplates the transient nature of both digital and physical existence. By integrating ephemeral digital imagery with historical painting traditions, Suzuki reflects on how fleeting moments and impermanent data shape our perception of time, memory, and reality. His paintings serve as meditations on the tension between the material and the immaterial, capturing the quiet melancholy of a world in constant flux.
His work has been exhibited internationally, including at The Hole, New Y ork; the Brooklyn Museum; and N Project, Osaka. He was the recipient of the Winsor & Newton x Paul Smith Foundation International Art Prize in 2024, and his work is part of the collection at the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan.
In Praise of What Fades
24 x 20” (61cm x 50.8cm)
$1,500.00
Acrylic amd mixed media on canvas
$1,500.00
24 x 20” (61cm x 50.8cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
14 x 11”
(35.6 x 27.9 cm)
$600.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$3,000.00
40 x 30” (101.6cm x 76.2cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
18 x 14”
(45.7cm x 35.6cm)
$800.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$800.00
18 x 14”
(45.7cm x 35.6cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
48 x 36” (121.9cm x 91.4cm)
$4,800.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$2,000.00
30 x 24” (76.2cm x 61cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
18 x 14”
(45.7cm x 35.6cm)
$800.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$1,500.00
24 x 20” (61cm x 50.8cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
30 x 40” (76.2cm x 101.6cm)
$3,000.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$600.00
11 x 14””
(27.9cm x 35.6cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
After the Feast 2025
24 x 30” (61cm x 76.2cm)
$2,000.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
$1,500.00
24 x 20” (61cm x 50.8cm)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
18 x 14”
(45.7cm x 35.6cm)
$800.00
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Art at Wooster Street
Since the earliest days of Paul Smith, our shops have taken a pioneering approach to their use of space, blurring the line between traditional retail and art gallery. An inveterate collector and natural curator, Sir Paul is forever on the lookout for artwork, antiques, furniture and other curiosities which speak to him, and he is eager to share his unique taste with his customers, incorporating items from his extensive archive into the design and layout of each Paul Smith shop.
At Wooster Street you can find a unique and ever-changing assortment of artwork. Wooster Street also periodically plays host to temporary exhibitions, featuring work by some of Sir Paul’s favourite artists. his unique taste with his customers, incorporating items from his extensive archive into the design and layout of each Paul Smith shop.
For all art enquiries please contact:
art@paulsmith.co.uk
Katie Heller
Art & Exhibitions Manager
Paul Smith
9 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4BL
+44 (0)7553 352 959
+44 (0) 207 493 4565 katie.heller@paulsmith.co.uk
Brontë Crouch
Arts and Interiors Consultant
Paul Smith
9 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4BL
+44 (0) 207 493 4565 bronte.crouch@paulsmith.co.uk