VERDY, the Tokyo-based artist and designer behind the cult brands Girls Don't Cry and Wasted Youth, opens "In Good Company" at GYRE Gallery in Shibuya through September 27. The group exhibition centers on artists who have shaped VERDY's creative vision over his career.
Paulo Calle, VERDY's longtime collaborator and co-founder of both Girls Don't Cry and Wasted Youth, curated the show. The pair's partnership began in 2015 in Tokyo and has evolved into a powerful creative alliance. Their joint ventures have established themselves as pillars in Japanese streetwear and contemporary art, blending underground aesthetics with mainstream appeal.
"In Good Company" showcases painting, photography, and sculpture from artists in VERDY's orbit. The exhibition functions as a visual autobiography of sorts, mapping influences across multiple mediums rather than focusing solely on VERDY's own output. This curatorial approach reflects how contemporary artists increasingly position themselves as taste-makers and cultural connectors, not just individual creators.
The show arrives as VERDY continues expanding his reach beyond fashion. Girls Don't Cry and Wasted Youth have become cultural touchstones for Japanese youth culture, known for bold collaborations with brands like Nike and Stüssy. The label's aesthetic bridges fine art and streetwear seamlessly, a balance that "In Good Company" extends into gallery space.
GYRE Gallery, housed in Shibuya's luxury complex, remains a key venue for artists navigating the blurred boundary between high art and commercial design. By presenting peer work alongside curatorial intent, VERDY positions his practice as part of a broader artistic ecosystem rather than a solo endeavor. This moves beyond the typical designer retrospective into something closer to a manifesto about creative community and collective influence. The exhibition reinforces how contemporary Japanese designers now operate