‘TARO’s Festival’

October 7, 1998 - December 27, 1998

The original paintings of playing cards shown in this exhibition will probably come as a surprise to those of you for whom the name Taro Okamoto conjures up an image of large-scale, intense, dynamic works. In 1977 a specialist Belgian playing card company wanted to produce some original, artistic cards and Taro was commissioned to create hand-drawn designs for the kings, queens, jacks and aces for the four suites as well as two jokers, a total of eighteen cards in all.
He took great delight in designing the letters ‘J’, ‘Q’, ‘K’, etc. for the cards applying them carefully. He particularly liked the cute, coquettish women designs he created for the queens and aces.

We hope that you will enjoy Taro Okamoto’s playfulness.