Salt & color

Following a preview exhibition held in summer 2025, American artist Kristian Himmelstein will hold his first full solo exhibition in Japan from August 4 to August 17, 2026.

Kristian Himmelstein has spent nearly 30 years working in Scenic Arts for Disney and Universal Studios in the United States, contributing to the creation of immersive visual environments for some of the world's most recognized entertainment spaces.

Now based in Japan, he creates artwork centered on the themes of the ocean, waves, and coexistence with nature. As a surfer who has spent his life engaging with the natural world, his work expresses that sensitivity through his own distinctive use of color and visual language.

This exhibition will feature original paintings inspired by surf culture — works that evoke the atmosphere of the seaside, the energy of waves, and the spirit of living freely.

This exhibition also represents the realization of a long-held dream — one that Kristian and his wife, Makiko Kamata, have pursued together for many years. Starting from scratch in Japan, overcoming differences in language and culture, they have worked steadily toward this moment.

Artist Comment

"The ocean has the power to set the human heart free.
I hope that through my work, I can share that feeling and energy."

— Kristian Himmelstein

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Contact: Makiko Kamata
Instagram: @dreg_studio