Yu Sugiyama (杉山有) is a Japanese painter and lithographer, simultaneously drawing on the classical Far Eastern tradition and looking toward Western art.
Born in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions and presented his work in various European countries, primarily France, since 1974. He has also held solo exhibitions in the United States, Korea, and other countries, earning him high acclaim internationally. His achievements, including designing the poster for the 1982 Paris Chrysanthemum Exhibition, earned him the prestigious Médaille de Paris Award, the first Asian artist to receive the prestigious award.
While employing traditional Japanese techniques using rock paint, he expresses a uniquely mystical world that pursues Eastern spirituality. His painted flowers move within the composition, creating a cosmic, orderly presence. Whether he paints persimmons or winter berries, his work is not simply a still life; it is a rich world imbued with profound meaning, symbolizing a "life of silence."