Thinkspace Projects is pleased to present ‘Roots of Steel,’ our sophomore solo exhibition with DRAGON76 showcasing new works on canvas and paper alongside a new embellished sculpture edition. Dragon76 was born in Shiga, Japan in 1976 and is currently living and working in New York City. Known for his large-scale murals and live painting, his evolving artwork is characterized by a vibrant and energetic that reflects the concept of “coexistence” of opposites such as past and future, stillness and motion, evil and justice.
Our interview with Dragon76 shares his most memorable mural moment, which artists have heavily influenced his work and style, as well as his most unexpected inspiration.
- What motivated or inspired the collection you’re presenting in this exhibition?
For this body of work, I wanted to depict people and animals quietly yet powerfully surviving in a near-futuristic world where machines, technology, and nature intersect.
- Are there any recurring themes or symbols in your paintings? If so, what do they represent to you?
Yes, a recurring theme in my work is “coexistence.” My art always explores moments where opposing elements—nature and technology, analog and digital, strength and stillness—exist in harmony. For example, this can be physical coexistence, where nature, humans, and animals influence each other, or conceptual coexistence, such as people in a futuristic world embracing digital technology while remaining committed to analog expressions like spray art. I also often use the symbol OUROBOROS—an ancient Greek motif of a serpent eating its own tail, representing cycles of destruction and rebirth, beginnings and endings connected as one.
- Can you share a particularly memorable moment or experience that influenced your artistic journey?
In 2021, I created a mural in Houston, Texas, themed “Zero Hunger.” It was the largest piece of my career, measuring 76 meters by 18 meters. Amid the pandemic, I completed it together with my wife, son, and daughter. It’s one of my most memorable works—not only because I was deeply satisfied with the result, but also because of the powerful sense of accomplishment we felt as a family.
- Are there any specific artists, movements, or periods in art history that have significantly influenced your work?
I’ve been heavily influenced by Japanese manga artists and animators such as Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira Toriyama, and Hirohiko Araki. I also have great respect for the legendary graffiti artists of New York.
- Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the creative mindset before painting?
I simply love drawing—so much that I want to start creating as soon as I wake up, so I don’t really have a fixed routine. When I’m working on a mural with spray paint, I get so excited that I can’t wait for the morning to start. While painting, I also use my iPad to simulate ideas that come to mind, which helps refine the final work.
- What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have they influenced your artistic development?
I went through countless trials and errors in establishing my style and form of expression—and I still do. For every new piece, I try to incorporate at least one new idea or method. It takes a lot of effort to keep creating something new each time, but I believe that by constantly striving to improve, I accumulate knowledge and experience, allowing both my work and myself to evolve.
- If your paintings had a soundtrack, what kind of music would we hear while viewing them?
I often listen to 90s hip-hop, especially Wu-Tang Clan, whose music incorporates Asian influences. I also love Nujabes and Shing02, as well as SPIN MASTER A-1, who experiments with sampling traditional Japanese instruments and music into hip-hop—it fits perfectly with my creative vibe.
- If you could teleport into any of your paintings for a day, which one would it be and why?
I’d love to visit the world of my work “Roots of Steel.” Imagining myself standing in a place where machines and nature merge, feeling the raw energy of that space—it really excites me.
- If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, on a project, who would it be and what would you create together?
I would love to collaborate on a drawing, canvas, or mural with the late Akira Toriyama. And someday, I hope to collaborate with Hirohiko Araki as well.
- What’s the weirdest or most unexpected inspiration you’ve ever drawn from for a painting?
At one point, I spent time walking through abandoned urban ruins and decaying factories. The “eerie beauty” I felt there inspired me. Those modern structures weathered by time gave rise to my concept of contrasting coexistence—between opposing elements
DRAGON76 | @dragon76art
‘Roots of Steel’
On view November 8 – December 6, 2025
Thinkspace Projects
4217 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90016
#310.558.3375 | Tues. – Sat. noon to 6pm
thinkspaceprojects.com
