Born in 1973, Natsunosuke Mise earned both his B.F.A and M.F.A. from Kyoto City University of Arts. Since his first solo exhibition in 1999, Mise has received considerable recognition with breathtaking developments in technical skill and artistic conception. The artist has stated, "For me, Japanese painting is like Japanese language. There is something that only Japanese painting can express: unique painting techniques, expression using water and ink, brush strokes, and the texture of washi. But I don't want to just follow the conventional way of Japanese painting. Art is changing through trends and time as is language. What I am creating today is Japanese painting in the present" (Natsunosuke Mise, J, The Imura Art Gallery website). As evident in J (Lot 2598), his mesmerizing paintings are the result of exploring a multitude of media and technical skills drawn of Japanese painting. Mise is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including VOCA Prize and Kyoto City Young Artists Award.