Oscar Oiwa, born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1965, began his artistic journey with formal education in architecture, culminating in a degree from the School of Architecture at São Paulo University. During his college days, he had the privilege of contributing to the São Paulo Biennial on multiple occasions, working as an assistant to historic artists such as Keith Haring, Anselm Kiefer, John Cage, Martin Puryear, David Hockney, and many others. They served as his gateway into the realm of contemporary art.

In 1991, his dream materialized when he became a featured artist in the 21st São Paulo Biennial. Subsequently, he embarked on a transformative journey to Tokyo, where he resided for twelve enriching years. In 2001, after receiving a grant from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship, his path led him to New York, where he currently lives and works. In 2010, he became an American citizen.

He is a distinguished contemporary artist celebrated for his exceptional talent in creating immersive and thought-provoking artworks. Oiwa's artistic journey has taken him across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on the international art scene. His early career witnessed the refinement of skills and the development of a unique artistic voice that would distinguish him in the contemporary art world.

His works have been showcased extensively across the United States, South America, Asia, and Europe, with notable solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2007), Arizona State University Art Museum (2007), Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (2019), and California Southern University Pacific Asia Museum (2020), among others.