Minoru Nomata creates hyperrealistic paintings of fictional places. Born in 1955, the Japanese artist studied plastic design at the Tokyo University of Arts before working at an advertising agency. By the mid–80s, Nomata had committed himself entirely to painting—but on his own terms. Nomata dreams up architectural structures surrounded by vast wastelands. Inspired by the music of Brian Eno and Erik Satie, he brings an almost ethereal quality to his paintings, which use beautiful color monochromatically. From 2014 to 2022, Nomata was a professor at the Joshibi University of Art and Design. This solo exhibition celebrates his masterful creations. —Zack Hauptman