ABOUT
AWATA COLLECTION at Gallery L
In April 2024, Gallery L was established as a private gallery in a quiet residential area of Hiroo, Tokyo, dedicated to showcasing AWATA COLLECTION, a collection focused on the works of Lou Zhenggang. This gallery is the only place in the world where visitors can fully experience the breadth of Lou Zhenggang’s artistic career, from calligraphy to acrylic paintings, and connect with her creative vision in the present.
The AWATA COLLECTION includes large-scale works, such as the “Untitled 2022” piece measuring approximately 2m × 8m, which was exhibited in the 2023 Artizon Museum exhibition “ABSTRACTION: Awakening and Development of Abstract Painting—From Cézanne, Fauvism, and Cubism to the Present”.
- Takaya Awata
- Entrepreneur
Founder, President, and CEO of Toridoll Holdings Corporation, which operates Marugame Seimen and other brands.
Born in Kobe, Japan, in 1961, Awata founded his first restaurant in 1985 and later established Toridoll Corporation in 1990, incorporating it in 1995. His company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006 and was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2008. Under his leadership, the company rebranded as Toridoll Holdings Corporation in 2016 and has expanded its reach to nearly 1,700 restaurants across 30 countries and regions, aiming to become a “global food company from Japan.”
Awata has found profound strength in art throughout his journey as a business leader. He recalls moments where art provided him courage and solace, and his encounter with Lou Zhenggang in 2022 was one of serendipity. Shortly after meeting the artist, he visited Lou’s studio in Izu, where he spent time immersed in the artist’s creative environment. This experience cemented his role as a dedicated collector of Lou Zhenggang’s works.