BIOGRAPHY
Go Suga was born in Hiroshima, Japan, where he began drawing as a child along with his brothers. This early interest spawned a passion that would continue into adulthood. Suga migrated to Australia with his family when he was ten years old, settling on the Gold Coast where he earned a formal qualification in Graphic Design.
His work emulates a blend of his two cultural influences, with mystical elements of traditional Eastern philosophy and the vibrancy of contemporary Australian lifestyle. In his work, Suga considers social and political paradigms that are punctuated with the cultural elements with which he is adept. However, beauty is always integral to his creative pursuit and this aesthetic is achieved through the skilful deployment of opposing colours, shapes and movements.
The artists clever use of technology makes Go Suga an innovative creative with professional longevity in his grasp, which in turn gives his work great collectible promise. The artist has evolved his style at a steady pace, unearthing new techniques and layers of himself with a playful audacity that mirrors the artists experimental process. Go Suga is a self-proclaimed tactile practitioner, unafraid to execute an idea and refine it until his vision is realised so that he can then assess its technical and aesthetic viability. No doubt, this is what has seen such a steep gradient in the artist’s development, value and presence in the market across various creative feilds.
Go Suga’s achievements are as vast as they are diverse, having illustrated a children’s book in 2019 with Author Tenielle Stoltenkamp, as well as illustrating welcome cards for Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast. The artist has had Solo Shows in Australia and New York with an upcoming show in Korea scheduled for 2024. He has also worked on many design collaborations including with Jacob’s Creek to design a limited-edition bottle for their Sparkling Pinot Noir and Lush Japan on a limited edition Gift Box, and has been featured in Blank Street Press and the cover of No Cure magazine.
Go Suga is also represented by Crossing Art Gallery, New York, Grimson Art Gallery, Korea and Anala Art Gallery, Sydney.
EDUCATION
Diploma of Graphic Design, TAFE, Gold Coast
Certificate IV in Business, TAFE, Gold Coast
EXHIBITIONS
2024 St Hilda Art Festival, St Hilda’s School, Gold Coast QLD
2024 All Go, Solo Show, Gallery Grimson, KOREA
2024 Attention Art Show, Group Show, Gallery Grimson, KOREA
2023 Amoy Art Fair, Crossing Art Gallery, Xiamen, CHINA
2023 Kiaf Seoul Art Fair, Gallery Grimson, KOREA
2022 Context Art Miami, MIAMI, US
2022 Splish Splash, Solo Show, Crossing Art, NEW YORK, US
2021 Yinyanga, Solo Show, 19 Karen Gallery, Mermaid Beach, AUS
2020 Unplugged International Group Show, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
2020 Locals, Outre Gallery Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC
2019 Threesome International Group Show, 19 Karen Gallery, Mermaid Beach QLD, AUS
2019 Solo Exhibition at Outre Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2019 Under The Stars, 19 Karen, Gold Coast, QLD
2019 Surftastic 8, Outre Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2017 Morgan’s Art Show, Southport QLD
2017 BLA! Art Exhibition, Burleigh Heads
2017 Time Traveller, Solo Show, 19 Karen, Gold Coast QLD
2017 Kings Easter Arts Festival, Group Exhibition, Kings Christian College, Gold Coast QLD
2016 HAPPY Group Exhibition, 19 Karen, Gold Coast QLD
2016 Anala Art Advisory Opening Group Exhibition
2015 PAIN/TING, Group Exhibition, The Walls Gallery, Berlin GERMANY
2015 RED Expressionism Group Show, 19 Karen, Gold Coast QLD
2015 Colourful Mythology, Depo Multi Arts Performance Space, QLD
2015 Downlands College Art Exhibition, Toowoomba, QLD
ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 Custom Illustration for ‘The Extraordinary Book that makes you an Artist” by Mary Richards
2023 Custom limited edition “Space Bubble Monkey” sculptures
2023, Blank Street Press “10 Gold Coast Artists Who Made a Name for Themselves”
2023, Custom Box Design for Limited Edition Gift Pack, Lush Japan
2022 Custom Animated Illustartion for Hersehy’s Chocolate
2021 Mural painting for Casteltown Townsville, Woolcock Street & Kings Road, Hyde Park
2021 Custom Illustration for The Washington Post, US
2021 Custom Web Illustrations for Martini & Rossi
2020 Digital Mural Art for SBE Collection’s Delano Hotel, Miami Beach, USA
2020 Mural painting for Telstra, Telstra Innovation Centre, Southport, AUS
2020 Limited edition tote bag illustration for T2 Tea and Melrose Health
2020 Representation at Grainger Gallery, Canberra, Australia
2019 Mural Painting for Ambitious, Fukuoka, Japan
2019 Limited Edition Champagne Sleeve Illustration for Jacob’s Creek Wine (sold nationally & internationally)
2019 Illustrates children’s book – ‘My Family Doesn’t Look Like Your Family’ – with Tenielle Stoltenkamp
2019 Illustrator – Welcome Cards for Sea World Resort, Gold Coast
2018 Finalist – Clayton Utz Art Awards
2018 Finalist – The Small Wall Project – Outre Gallery
2018 Cover Artist – No Cure Magazine Issue 16
2018 Commissioned Mural – CoSpaces, Gold Coast
2018 Commissioned Work Series – Art Box Series, Gold Coast City Council
2018 Commissioned Mural – Water Walls Urban Art Project, Gold Coast City Council
2017 Featured Artist – Kings Easter Arts Festival, Kings Christian College, Gold Coast
2017 Artist In Residence – Burleigh Brewing, Gold Coast
2016 Finalist – Stanthorpe Art Festival
2016 Finalist – Morton Bay Art Award
2016 Finalist – Noosa Art Prize
2016 Selected Artist – Biocup Art Series, Sustainable Takeaway Coffee Cups featuring selected artists
2015 Winner – Site Fencing and Artwork Signage Competition, Gold Coast City Council
2015 Winner of Gold Coast Cultural Precinct Design Competition
2015 Finalist at Moreton Bay Art Awards
PRESS
2021 Illustration for The Big Issue Australia
2021 Interview with Byron Arts Magazine
2019 Gold Coast Bulletin – ‘All About Diversity’ – Feb 5
2018 Interview with The Design Kids
2018 Interveiw with Inside Gold Coast
2018 Interview with Burleigh Brewing Company (Artist In Residence Program)
2017 Interview with No Cure Magazine – ‘Go Suga – Time Traveller’
2017 Interview with IllustrationWeb
2017 Interview with Blank Magazine – ‘The Time Traveller and the Genie’
2015 Interview with Blank Magazine – ‘Gold Coast Happy Days’ Installation in Cultural Precinct
