Takashi Azumaya was known for his innovative curatorship of several Japanese exhibitions as well as his involvement in the 2008 and 2010 Busan Biennales.

Takashi Azumaya was born on 21 March, 1968 in Yokkaichi City, Japan. In 1994, he received a Master in Fine Arts in oil painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts. After graduation, Azumaya held curatorial positions at a number of Japanese institutions, including the Setagaya Art Museum, the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery and the Mori Art Museum, before beginning his career as an independent curator.

In 2006, Azumaya organised “GUNDAM Generating Futures“ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sapporo, a group show of artwork inspired by the iconic anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. 

Azumaya was also the first non-Korean artistic director of the Busan Biennale in 2010, having served as a guest curator for the event in 2008. The 2010 festival explored the average person’s role in contemporary society, and to this end Azumaya placed large-scale installations in several key spots around Busan to boost public participation in the project.