Bambinart Gallery (Higashikanda, Tokyo) and HIRO GALLERY (Ginza, Tokyo) are pleased to present “Buttermilk Mood,” a solo exhibition unfolding in the two galleries by Canadian artist Curtis Talwst Santiago. “Buttermilk Mood” marks Santiago’s first solo exhibition in Japan and features new paintings and miniature dioramas from his Infinity Series, housed in antique jewelry boxes.
Born in 1979 to Trinidadian parents who immigrated to Edmonton, Canada, Santiago grew up immersed in Caribbean-Canadian culture. His early influences included music, dance, and art, shaped by his family and community. In the late 1990s, he began his musical career as the frontman of an a cappella group before moving to Vancouver in 2002, where he was drawn to 70s soul and 90s rap. From 2007 to 2010, he studied under First Nations artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, whose impact can be seen in the critical themes, bold colors, and expressive forms in Santiago’s work.
