Aran Yasuoka (b. 1978, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese painter who studied design at Tokyo University of the Arts, where she received the Salon de Printemps Award for her graduation work in 2003. She has developed a distinctive practice that merges painterly expression with a strong sense of design. Working primarily with acrylic on Japanese paper mounted on panel, Yasuoka creates compositions that combine natural and mechanical elements. Her works depict imagined creatures that hybridize animals and plants with machine-like forms, constructing a unique visual language in which organic life and artificial structures coexist. Her practice is grounded in the theme of “past and future.” By juxtaposing contrasting elements such as life and machinery, tradition and innovation, she produces works that evoke a sense of traveling across time and culture. In recent years, she has incorporated motifs inspired by traditional Japanese chiyogami patterns, further expanding her exploration of the relationship between historical aesthetics and contemporary expression. Since her solo exhibition “kasane” at SHIKISAISHA in 2006, Yasuoka has been continuously presented through solo and curated exhibitions. The gallery has supported and introduced her practice over many years, including her participation in the director-led art fair “ULTRA 002” in 2009. Her work has also been presented internationally at major art fairs and exhibitions, including Art Taipei, Art Fair Tokyo, and exhibitions in Shanghai, Seoul, New York, Paris, and Singapore, demonstrating her sustained presence both in Japan and abroad.