Izumi Kato is a professional painter and sculptor from Shimane, Japan.
Having graduated from the Department of Oil Painting at Musashino University in 1992, he has since become a beloved and respected artist in Japan and beyond.
Even if you've never heard of him, it is likely that you have definitely seen his sculpture "Untitled 2004", better known as SCP-173
, currently under containment by the SCP Foundation.
His work can be seen on his personal website here.
This creator provides examples of the following tropes:
- Animate Inanimate Object: One interpretation many apply to his sculptures is that it follows the Shinto idea that everything (like wood and rock) possesses a spirit that can manifest (this being the origin for a lot of Youkai), the humanoid sculptures simply being a representation of this idea.
- One-Track-Minded Artist: While there certainly is a variety to his body of work, most of his sculptures and paintings are comprised of embryo-like humanoids with matching, malformed faces.
- Trademark Favorite Food: He cites "coffee" to be one of the most indispensable things in his studio.
- Write What You Know: He cites "everything I come in contact with while living" as the primary source for his portfolio.
