PORT OF ARTIST (POA) is a project that supports young artists and creators across a wide range of genres, including painting, illustration, three-dimensional works, music, video, and literature. As part of this initiative, the PORT OF ARTIST Gallery, which opened in Ebetsu, is currently hosting its first official exhibition featuring six registered artists. We will introduce the highlights of the exhibition and information about POA that we hope young artists and creators will learn about.
19 oil paintings, pen drawings, photographs, and other works by six artists with different styles and careers will be on display.
Exhibition view (photo provided by POA Gallery)
PORT OF ARTIST Gallery (POA Gallery) opened in the summer of 2025 in the Oasa Ginza shopping district of Ebetsu City. Its first official exhibition, “A Joint Exhibition by PORT OF ARTIST Artists: For Now, Each of Us Now,” is currently underway. The gallery features 19 diverse works, including oil paintings, pen drawings, and photographs, by six artists in their early to mid-20s.
Two oil paintings by Kana Shinbayashi, created with the aim of “valuing the pressure felt from the screen”
Pen drawings by Seiya Abe, created to “capture the flowing present” (Photo courtesy of POA Gallery)
Ryo Hashizume aims to capture the air, sounds, smells, etc. he felt at the shooting location.
A text that conveys the background of each artist’s work and their current thoughts
Shiojinaji writes, “I want to sublimate my dilemma into my own expression.”
In this exhibition, texts about the artist’s current situation are displayed next to the works, and efforts have been made to convey the background to the creation of the works. Anyone involved in the creation of things will be able to relate to lines such as “After graduating from university, I’ve had difficulty finding a place to work” and “I’m confused when people ask me about the meaning of my works, which I can’t put into words.”
Yukiko Oguro writes, “I reconstruct what I see in my visions and turn them into paintings.” (Photo courtesy of POA Gallery)
“POA” is a project for writers run by an NPO that has been supporting young people for many years.
Ebetsu Machinaka Art Month 2023 (Photo courtesy of POA Gallery)
POA Gallery is run by Minato Keikaku, an Ebetsu-based nonprofit organization that has been supporting young people for many years. The organization began supporting young artists in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, running consultation services, exploring ways to balance work and creative pursuits, hosting exhibitions, and creating spaces for artists to interact with each other.
The gallery will also be selling goods by registered artists on consignment outside of the exhibition period.
There is also a space where you can have coffee and relax while looking at the paintings (Photo provided by POA Gallery)
After five years of listening to various opinions and refining the support content, the “POA” project for artists was launched in 2024. “POA Gallery” will be the base for the constant “exhibitions” and “sales” of the support that “POA” provides to registered artists.
We are always looking for registered artists! We have also started a crowdfunding campaign to support the activities of “POA”.
From the official POA website. Currently (as of November 2025), there are 17 registered artists.
The following is quoted from the official POA website:
Q. Why limit yourself to young artists?
A. When you are young, you are particularly influenced by the accumulation of “coincidences” that are beyond your control, such as the family and town you are born and raised in, and the people you meet. This can lead to unconsciously limiting your own possibilities that don’t need to be closed off yet.
It is up to the individual to decide which path to choose, but we primarily target young artists, hoping to support them until they are able to imagine and choose how to continue their creative activities in their own way.
Q. Why should I support something I love doing?
A. Opening up the possibilities for young artists will result in a “language” that expresses an unimaginable number of thoughts, and in “images” that project things that no one can yet imagine, which will reach the eyes of the public.
I believe that this will lead to mutual understanding across nationalities and generations, and help us weave a more desirable future.
We launched “PORT OF ARTIST” as a place where not only young artists but also those who believe in such possibilities can come together and light a fire of hope.
A pen drawing by Matsuura Mikan depicting a fantastical world of flowers (Photo courtesy of POA Gallery)
Mikan Matsuura, a registered artist participating in the joint exhibition, quoted the same passage from the official POA website in her note, writing, “When I saw this text from POA, it gave me a sense of relief and motivated me to try harder!”
Since art production is often done alone, it is very important to have a place to rely on like “POA.” The gallery is always looking for registered artists, and Masahiko Hashimoto of “Minato Project” will be in the gallery while it is open, so if you are interested, be sure to visit while the exhibition is running. A crowdfunding page to support “POA” will be launched soon, so don’t forget to check out the gallery’s Instagram!
Writer Profile
writer
Yoshio Matsuda
I published a free paper called “WG” from 2007 to 2010, and have been working as a freelance writer since 2010. I particularly love performing arts and fine arts. Since around 2002, I have been purchasing artworks, mainly paintings, from galleries. I would be happy if the reports here help someone find “that piece of art that is theirs.”
AloJapan.com