Art club member Yuri Yamanaka’s painting at renowned Le Salon event in Paris
Yuri Yamanaka, a 6th-year Dentistry student and member of the Science Tokyo Art Club, recently exhibited her oil painting Aube at Société des Artistes Français (Le Salon) 2026, an exhibition held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France from February 13 to 15.
Yamanaka was also selected as a finalist for the L’Œil magazine prize by the sponsors of the Le Salon event.
Founded at the behest of Louis XIV, Le Salon is the world’s oldest open-call exhibition with a history spanning more than 350 years. It is one of the most prestigious exhibitions of its kind in the European art world. Painters with a profound influence on the art world such as Monet, Renoir, and Cézanne gained fame through participation in this exhibition.
Yamanaka, like Renoir, made her Le Salon debut at the age of 23. Although she did not win an award this time, she received high praise from the renowned French art magazine L’Œil, which marks a significant step forward for her as an artist.
As a result of her success, Yamanaka was also invited to exhibit her work at the 39th Salon International de Paris 2026, an exhibition in early April featuring more than 300 Japanese works.
Comments from Yuri Yamanaka
I am delighted to have exhibited my work at Le Salon, the art world gateway that even artists I admire aspired to enter.
Drawing on my own experience receiving orthodontic treatment during high school, I realized that each case of dental care is a custom-made work of art. This led me to enroll in Science Tokyo with the desire to study an art that supports people’s lives. Over the past six years, I have continued to create oil paintings while pursuing my goal of becoming a dentist. I am grateful that my efforts have borne fruit and that my work has received such unexpected recognition.
This was an unprecedented opportunity to participate in an overseas trip as part of the Science Tokyo Art Club. Thanks to the cooperation of many people, including our club faculty advisor, the professors guiding 6th-year doctoral students, all the members of the Art Club, and the Yushima International Exchange Support Group — I was able to travel and exhibit my work. I am truly grateful.
After graduation, I will strive to become a dentist who applies artistic skills to dental technology. I look forward to your continued support for the Science Tokyo Art Club.
