Kenji Shimizu (b. 1971, Nagoya, Japan) studied oil painting at Tama Art University and later completed a Master’s degree in Design at Tokyo University of the Arts. Based on a background that spans painting and design, he has developed a distinctive artistic practice. His works are characterized by the incorporation of classical motifs of Japanese painting—such as cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji—rendered through a wide range of materials and techniques. By combining painterly expression with a design-oriented sensibility, he creates visually rich and multilayered compositions. Central to his practice is the original character “Bridolly,” inspired by an antique tin bird toy he encountered. The image of this wind-up toy, moving its rusted wings, evokes the passage of time and memory, and functions as a symbolic presence throughout his works. Bridolly appears in various forms—at times as a charming toy-like figure, at others transforming into mythological beings such as the phoenix or the three-legged crow (Yatagarasu)—embodying themes of ephemerality, beauty, and vitality. Kenji Shimizu has been presented through group exhibitions and projects at SHIKISAISHA, including “Art ENCOUNTERS #4” in Omiya (2025) and the ShinQs Gallery 5 opening exhibition “Begins!” (2025). His works have also been widely exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, as well as art fairs in Japan and abroad. In addition to his artistic practice, Shimizu has articulated his interest in Japan’s unique “character culture,” exploring themes of time, memory, and existence through the creation of Bridolly and its evolving visual narratives.