Sometimes I look to the past —
because I feel something there still speaks to me.
I am Aoyama Yuta.
I am not just painting.
I dive into America’s past—
searching for its air,
feeling its soul,
and tracing its stories.
Every brushstroke is a journey through time—
a quiet act of watching over those who once lived,
and a way to gently connect
the emotions and memories that still remain.
I’ve touched vintage American advertisements,
photographs, and objects that once lived in someone’s hands—
traces of the culture that shaped that era.
In them, I felt an energy that echoes across time—
an energy filled with the dreams, passions,
and love of those who once walked these streets.
I yearned to journey through their lives—
to witness countless stories,
each life a unique story,
each person a protagonist in their own right.
That is why YUYU was born.
A ghost—a traveler through time.
YUYU is both a part of me
and a window for those who see my work—
wandering forgotten roads,
floating through neon lights,
silently watching over untold stories.
For a deeper look,
read Why I Paint America.