Yukio Gion, a.k.a. GION, was born in Okayama, Japan, and graduated from Waseda University. Through his background as a playwright and director in Tokyo, he developed his most important photographic techniques, “communication” and “story”. Whether photographing people or objects like architecture or artwork, he excels at creating visual stories by connecting with his subjects through the lens.​

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After gaining experience as an assistant in Japan, he moved to the U.S. in 1993 to pursue a career as a professional photographer.  Based in New York City, he has worked as an editorial and commercial photographer for over 30 years, shooting mainly architecture and portraits in New York and throughout the U.S. In addition to his work, he collaborated on numerous projects with artists such as The Barnstormers, Takashi Murakami, and Noritaka Tatehana. From the rise of street culture in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, during the 2000s to its gentrification wave spurred by redevelopment, he kept photographing this transformation through vibrant cityscapes and the daily lives of Brooklyn residents over decades. These works were compiled into photo books such as Riverside Story, Riverside Story 2, and Domino Sugar Factory.

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In 2023, he relocated his base back to Tokyo, where he continues to capture new visual stories from a global perspective.

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GION/祗園幸雄　岡山県生まれ。早稲田大学卒業。東京で劇作家および演出家として活動した経験を通じ、写真撮影に「コミュニケーション」と「ストーリー」という演劇的アプローチを取り入れる。人物はもちろん、建築やアート作品といった多彩な被写体に対しても、レンズ越しの対話を通じてビジュアル・ストーリーを紡ぐことを信条とする。

日本でアシスタント経験を積んだ後、1993年渡米。ニューヨークを拠点に30年にわたり、エディトリアルおよびコマーシャル分野で活躍。建築やポートレートを中心に、ニューヨークのみならず全米各地で撮影を行う一方、The Barnstormersや村上隆、舘鼻則孝といった多彩なアーティストとのプロジェクトにも数多く携わっている。また2000年代以降、ブルックリン・ウィリアムズバーグ地区でのストリートカルチャーの興隆から、再開発競争によるジェントリフィケーション（都市の富裕層化）への移り変わりを記録。色彩豊かなシティスケープと共に、ブルックリンの人々の日常を写し続け、『Riverside Story』、『Riverside Story 2』、『Domino Sugar Factory』などの写真集にまとめる。

2023年、ニューヨークから再び東京に拠点を移し、グローバルな視点で新たなビジュアルストーリーの創作を続けている。

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Books

2011 Riverside Story 2

2008 The Barns by the Barnstormers  

2007 SHAFT Doze Green/David Ellis 

2001 Riverside Story 

 

Clients

Artemide, Asian/Pacific/American Institute, Associated Press, Kaikai Kiki, Paramount Pictures, Vornado Realty Trust, Goto Design, Blue Medium, Clouds Architecture Office, Architecture Work Office, Issey Miyake, BS-TBS,

Dentsu Inc, Hakuhodo Inc, Vogue, GQ, Brutus, CASA Brutus, Elle Decor, Departures, Numero, Goethe & Mass Appeal.