Yuichi Kurita on Collecting as Environment-Building

Japanese collector Yuichi Kurita, founder of T&Y Projects, discusses his approach to collecting art as a practice of composing harmonious environments rather than acquiring status symbols. Coming from a fashion background, Kurita began by collecting vintage clothing and photo prints before moving into contemporary art, with his first piece being a painting by Hanai Yusuke. He emphasizes mixing high and low, vintage and contemporary, and prefers quiet works that do not dominate a space. Kurita recently visited Jonas Wood's studio in Los Angeles and saw works now at Gagosian. He cites furniture exhibitions at Gallery Sign in Tokyo as memorable. Through T&Y Projects, he creates domestic-like viewing rooms where art, furniture, and objects coexist. Kurita believes collectors in Japan have a responsibility to support talented artists and educate the next generation by exposing children to museums. He advises new collectors to simply acquire what they like. Tokyo's architectural diversity, with experimental and traditional buildings coexisting, represents the city's creative energy for him.