ROAMCOUCH
ABOUT
Ryo Ogawa, better known as RoamCouch, is a Japanese contemporary artist born in Gifu in 1976. Originally trained as a designer, he began pursuing art more seriously after a major turning point in his life and adopted the name RoamCouch in 2011.
RoamCouch is best known for his highly detailed stencil works, often created using more than fifty layers of hand-cut stencils. Combining precise technique with poetic and cinematic imagery, his compositions frequently explore themes of memory, hope, love and the passage of time.
His practice also draws deeply on Japanese visual culture. Describing his style as “Neo Ukiyo-e,” RoamCouch combines contemporary stencil techniques with traditional Mino washi paper, reinterpreting elements of ukiyo-e through a distinctly contemporary perspective.
In 2014, he launched the Emotional Bridge Project in his hometown, creating murals and public artworks as part of an initiative connecting art with the local community. Since then, his work has been presented through exhibitions and public projects in Japan and internationally, establishing him as a distinctive voice in contemporary stencil art.
