Born 1951 in Osaka, Morimura graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts. Beginning with his photographic self-portrait impersonating Vincent van Gogh, his “Art History” series garnered Morimura widespread attention. His submission to the “Aperto” section of the Venice Biennale in 1988 further contributed to his rising international reputation, resulting in a variety of opportunities to show his works nationally and abroad. Besides the “Self-portraits as Actress” and “Psychoborg” series, Morimura also has appropriated the portraits of Vermeer and Frida Kahlo, and recently has worked with video art.

Exhibitions include: “The Disease to Be Beautiful: Self-Portraits as Actress” (Yokohama Museum of Art, 1996); “Self-Portraits as Art History” (Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art, 1998); “Yasumasa Morimura and Sawako Goda” (Kochi Prefectural Art Museum, 2001); “Actress: The Story of M” (Kawasaki City Museum, 2001-02); “Yasumasa Morimura: The Classroom of Beauty ? Listen quietly” (Yokohama Museum of Art, 2007).