Art supply stores have never really had the sexy interior makeover. Ever since the closure of Paperchase and its wonderful flagship store on Tottenham Court Road, artists in the UK have had to either shop online or visit dark basement warehouses in East London to find their supplies.
For many artists, no holiday is complete without a visit to the local art supply stores. Another step in search for that unknown product, the local speciality item or the elusive colour. (Why is it that France has so many more purples than anywhere else in the world?)
So it was with utter joy that Trebuchet discovered PIGMENT TOKYO, an artist’s Aladdin’s cave; thousands of colours, hundreds of brushes and an interior to die for. Established nearly ten years ago, PIGMENT has become a central hub for Japanese artists, and must-see for artists from around the globe. So, what’s the story behind the legend? PIGMENT TOKYO answers:
“PIGMENT TOKYO opened in July 2015. Due to various factors such as the decline in successors for producers, issues with raw materials, and the overall decline of traditional industries, it became increasingly difficult to preserve traditional art materials and traditional techniques, such as sumi ink and washi paper. To halt this trend and to protect the techniques and culture that have been cultivated in Japan over many years, PIGMENT TOKYO was established. It plays a role in connecting high-quality, handcrafted art materials with artists.
We love the store’s interior design. Can you tell us about the interior of the store and the reasoning behind its cool style.
The interior of PIGMENT TOKYO was designed by Kengo Kuma and features a streamlined design. It was awarded the winner title in the Excellent Communications Design category (Interior Architecture) at the German Design Award 2018.
Do you specialise in a particular area of artist products? Painting, for example, or do you cover all aspects of art (e.g.: ceramics and modelling) as well?
While we primarily specialise in selling painting materials, some of our products are also used in sculpture, resin art and hobby-related activities.
Tell us about your products. Do you have set criteria for product selection?
We carefully select high-quality painting materials from around the world, both traditional and modern, that support diverse artistic expressions. Our offerings range from traditional materials meticulously crafted by Japanese artisans to those incorporating new technologies.
You have a much wider selection of paint brushes than I’m used to seeing in art supply stores in general. Can you explain why and how you source them?
Paint brushes come in various shapes to suit different purposes, and they are made with different types of bristles and offered in a wide range of sizes. Many brushes have been developed in response to requests from artists, taking into account the combination of bristles, their length and quantity, resulting in a rich variety of options. At our store, we offer a service where customers can test brushes on paper to find the brush that best suits their specific needs. All the brushes we carry at PIGMENT TOKYO are made by domestic manufacturers, and we regularly introduce new and rare brushes through discussions with these manufacturers.
We offer a wide range of approximately 4,500 pigments, from traditionally used natural pigments to industrial pigments created through recent technological advancements. With the cooperation of many manufacturers, we have been able to assemble this extensive variety. Natural pigments derived from minerals, effect pigments with various shines and transformations, and rare pigments like YInMnBlue, which are not widely available, are among our most popular products. We maintain close communication with manufacturers and actively seek to expand our lineup whenever new colours are commercialised.
With such a good selection of art materials you must have some interesting artists as customers?
Although we cannot share individual customer information, we’d like to offer insight into what makes PIGMENT TOKYO and its customer base unique.
One of the key features of PIGMENT TOKYO is that our staff members are practising artists. They are constantly exploring the diverse materials and their applications, as well as the “expressions” these materials produce. In our store, customers are assisted by staff who are not only knowledgeable but also actively engaged in the art world as artists.
Additionally, we offer workshops for those who are new to art materials, including children, as an entry point to experiencing art. At PIGMENT TOKYO, our goal is to provide a learning environment for everyone, from professionals to beginners.
PIGMENT TOKYO is part of a much larger arts organisation. Where do you see yourselves as part of the Tokyo art scene?
Established in 1950 and located in Tennoz, Tokyo, Warehouse TERRADA has since expanded into a wide range of fields, with a primary focus on the storage of artworks, launched in 1975, as well as artwork restoration, transportation, and exhibitions. In 2014, we began operating a bonded warehouse for artworks. We established a new bonded warehouse in the spring of 2022, which we opened as a permanent bonded gallery venue that allows for viewings, storage, and more under bonded conditions. We offer foreign and domestic art collectors opportunities to purchase artworks and give overseas galleries a chance to expand their presence in Japan.
In essence, Warehouse TERRADA brings together facilities and functions related to creating, exhibiting, transporting, storing, and restoring art, with PIGMENT TOKYO playing a crucial role in supporting the creative process.
In addition, PIGMENT TOKYO leverages the talents of artists, and we also support emerging artists by hosting the ART AWARD and operating rental studio spaces.
What should we see when we next visit Japan?
In recent years, Warehouse TERRADA has opened several facilities that promote art and culture, including the collectors’ museum of contemporary art WHAT MUSEUM, art gallery café WHAT CAFE, art materials lab PIGMENT TOKYO, and TERRADA ART COMPLEX, one of Japan’s largest gallery complexes. Through these broad-ranging art industry operations, and as a leading company in the Japanese art world, we provide services that will play a role in revitalising its art market and develop Tennoz, Tokyo, as a hub of art together with other cities around the world.
https://pigment.tokyo/en
Open Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (*Closed on Mondays except national holidays)
Tel: 03-5781-9550
Address: TERRADA Harbor One Bldg. 1F, 2-5-5 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 JAPAN
Access:About 3-minute walk from Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line ‘Tennozu Isle Station’. About 5-minute walk from Tokyo Monorail ‘Tennoz Isle Station’
Trebuchet Asia Editor
An artist, gallerist and educator Syrett travels the world discovering new generations of artistic talent and creative visionaries.
