THE GALLERY by odo is delighted to announce the exhibition YAKUSHIMA, showcasing a collection of photographs, paintings and helio engravings by the artist Antoine Wagner. The show will be available for public viewing at 17 W 20th street, from May 20th to September 14 2025. 

Antoine Wagner's exhibition is inspired by the Japanese Island of Yakushima, home of some of the world’s oldest trees and largest subterranean network. 

The large scale single edition photographs printed on Kozo white paper using mulberry tree fibers from the Tokushima region are abstract photographs which reveal a rich natural texture as well as anthropomorphic shapes and what seems to be a series of timeless living fossils. 

Alongside the photographs are Wagner’s paintings inspired by this experience on the island. The compositions don't merely unveil landscapes; they subtly hint at the ambiance of forests and the intricate tapestry woven by nature. Each piece exudes a remarkable meditative quality and a powerful, almost tangible energy. This is evident in the textured elements of his work, from the way he captures the essence of a landscape to the meticulous stained lines he employs. In this series, Wagner uses acrylics, sand, earth and ashes directly onto canvases. The outcome is a series of forms that possess a fossilized quality, as though they are inherently woven into the very fabric of the artwork. 

This exhibition will be presented across three distinct businesses: THE GALLERY by odo, a hybrid space combining fine dining and contemporary art; odo, a two Michelin-starred Japanese kaiseki restaurant; and odo Lounge, an intimate bar specializing in Japanese spirits and small plates. All three are located within the same building and are led by Chef Hiroki Odo. Wagner’s artworks will be thoughtfully installed throughout these spaces, allowing guests at each venue to experience his work through a unique and immersive lens. 

Hiroki Odo, the owner-chef and curator of this exhibition, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: “There’s a beautiful harmony between the mystical, organic nature of Yakushima and the deeply human qualities in Wagner’s work and his personality. His perspective on Yakushima resonates with how I feel about my own approach to cooking—it’s intuitive, rooted in nature, and deeply personal.” 

Wagner's artistic vision is defined by a profound emphasis on silence, tranquility, and strength. His paintings suggest anthropomorphic motifs, featuring elements that span from the human form to the organic world—roots, foliage, trees, mountains, and waterways—all cleverly concealed within the textured colors of his creations. 

Accompanying these artworks are a limited edition of 3 helio engravings representing the shapes found on the surface of the mystical island as well drawn from tree barks as from water surfaces. 

In response to the artwork, landscape artist Kan ASAKURA has created a beautiful floral arrangement to make this multidisciplinary experience complete, awakening all the senses. 

During the exhibition, THE GALLERY by odo will offer a special, heartwarming menu crafted by Chef Odo—an homage to the lush, vibrant spirit of Yakushima, rich with greenery and life.

ABOUT ANTOINE WAGNER

Antoine Wagner is a French-American contemporary artist and film director who works in the fields of sculpture, paintings, drawings, film, performance, photography, sound and installation.

His work explores the connectivity between nature, geography, mythology and the sublime as well as themes of resurrection and identity. 

The institutions that have presented the artist’s work include The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC (2024), The Tiroler Festspiele Erl, Austria (2022), L’Offrande Musical, Tarbes France (2021), Les Archives Nationales, Paris, France (Nuit Blanche 2021), The National Gallery of Armenia (2019), The New World Center Miami, Florida, USA (2018), The Goethe Institute Tokyo, Japan (2018), The Deck Museum, Singapore (2018), The Voelkerkunde Museum Hamburg, Germany (2014–15), the Collection Lambert en Avignon, France (2014), The Theater of St Gallen Switzerland (2013), and The Palazzo Vendramin Venice, Italy (2013).

Wagner received a Bachelor of Arts (2005) in Theater from Northwestern University and a joint Bachelor of Science in Political Science (2005) from Northwestern University and Sciences Po Paris.
After a continuing studies program at NYU Tisch (2007), Wagner assisted Palme d’Or winner Michael Haneke.

The artist has completed two residency programs: Bob Wilson at the Watermill Foundation in NY (2005) and the summer program at the Villa Medici Rome, Italy (2014).
Wagner is the prize winner of the Prix Lyrique Pierre Berge (2013) for his publication with the Verlag for Moderne Kunst Wagner in der Schweiz. 

Wagner’s most recent work, The Impossible Forest, is a collaborative platform raising awareness for land preservation through Art.

ABOUT HIROKI ODO

Chef Hiroki Odo was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. After training at Kyoto Wakuden, one of Japan’s most prestigious Kaiseki restaurants, founded in 1870, Odo participated in the launch of Yakumo Saryo in Tokyo, now a highly acclaimed, exclusive dining and tea house.  In 2012, Odo moved to New York and won a Michelin Star as the head chef at Kajitsu, the first restaurant to introduce authentic Shōjin Cuisine (a type of vegan cooking that originates in Zen Buddhism) in the U.S.

In 2018, Odo became independent and opened his eponymous restaurant, odo, which features a contemporary approach to Kaiseki cuisine. In 2020, odo was awarded one Michelin star in its first year of eligibility, marking a major milestone for the restaurant. The following year, in 2023, odo earned two Michelin stars, achieving this prestigious recognition for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). 

He also opened his THE GALLERY by odo in 2021 as a creative zone with the unique concept of fusing cuisine and art (or “interfacing between food and art”). 

Although the well-known chef is a newly minted gallerist, his interest in the arts have extended far beyond the culinary for many years. His passion for creative expression through mixed media art, food styling, interior design, product creation, and community building, led him to establishing THE GALLERY, where he regularly hosts temporary art exhibitions.

Chef Odo is excited to work with emerging as well as established artists who are interested in exploring intriguing and innovative ideas through art. He hopes that THE GALLERY will become a respectable platform in the highly competitive arts & culture industry. 

ABOUT KAN ASAKURA 

Kan Asakura of Kan Asakura Design was born in Kyoto, Japan, where he trained in ikebana/ floral design with ikebana master Kounansai Saeki and his father, Koujiro Asakura—renowned florist in the fine art industry in Osaka. His creations integrate Western style and Japanese traditional style with nature. Kan’s work can be seen at several Japanese restaurants and galleries in NYC, including at Kajitsu. He has also collaborated with other artists, including Camille Henrot for Frieze New York in March 2020. Kan Asakura Design provides floral design services for private clients, art galleries, and restaurants in the NYC area and beyond.