The WPÜ Artist in Residence Program is a month-long residency hosted by the hotel WPÜ SHINJUKU, based in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. The phrase “Wonder-Powered You” reflects our belief in unlocking the curiosity, surprise, and potential that already exist within you. Through art and culture, we aim to transform the everyday setting of a hotel into a place where culture can take root and grow. Here, guests, creators, and the local community naturally intersect—sparking conversations and new perspectives. This program is not only a place to create work, but also a time to reflect on and reconnect with your own sense of wonder.
From March 1 to March 31, 2026, we will host approximately five artists from Japan and abroad for a one-month residency. Working across disciplines with no genre restrictions, participants are invited to focus on creation, research, and experimentation. Spaces such as WPÜ GALLERY SHINJUKU will be available to support a wide range of activities. This place functions simultaneously as a studio, a gallery, and a hotel. People come and go, daily life unfolds, and unexpected conversations emerge. That sense of flow and openness lies at the core of this residency. During the stay, artists will have opportunities to connect with the WPÜ community. Dialogues with fellow artists, guests, staff, and locals may evolve into unexpected sources of inspiration.
In the final week of the program, artists will host a public output event at WPÜ GALLERY SHINJUKU. The format is entirely open—exhibitions, performances, talks, installations, and more are all welcome. The work does not need to be fully completed. What matters most is sharing the time and experience you have spent here with others. Presenting work in an open, hotel-based environment offers a different experience from the traditional white cube. Art intersects with everyday life, engages in dialogue with its audience, and gives rise to a form of culture that exists only in that moment. We hope that this one month becomes the beginning of your next chapter.
