Loko Gallery, which takes its name from the Esperanto word ‘place’, was established in 2016 as a way to make art more accessible via a casual setting. The space is connected to a streetside coffee shop called Zenta Coffee, and is designed so that viewers can easily peruse the latest exhibition while grabbing a quick latte to-go.
Gallery director Etsuyo Okajima envisioned an art space that would foster freedom of expression and engage local residents as well as young creatives. The curated artworks are thusly by next-generation artists from Japan and overseas. The gallery’s temporary exhibitions are usually a month long, with art ranging from paintings to dynamic sculptures to multimedia works.