Ay-O, whose real name is Takao Iijima, was born in 1931 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, and is regarded as one of Japan’s most renowned post-war artists. He participated in several groundbreaking art groups and movements in both Japan and the United States, eventually gaining international fame as the "Rainbow Artist." In 1953, Ay-O enrolled in the art department at Tokyo University of Education (now the University of Tsukuba) and joined the Artists Association. He moved to New York in 1958 and, through the introduction of Yoko Ono, became part of the Fluxus movement. Ay-O remained active on the international art scene, pioneering cross-media experimentation and interdisciplinary performances. In the early 1960s, he began developing a unique visual language based on rainbow colors. Using a range of mediums including painting, printmaking, sculpture, and installation, he established his iconic style.