List of Japanese artists explained

This is a list of Japanese artists. This list is intended to encompass Japanese who are primarily fine artists. For information on those who work primarily in film, television, advertising, manga, anime, video games, or performance arts, please see the relevant respective articles.

Heian and Kamakura periods

NameLifeCommentsReference
9th centuryPainter of landscapes, court and buddhist paintings, proponent of Yamato-e styles and methods
Fujiwara Takanobu1142–1205Nise-e Painter
Fujiwara Nobuzane1176–1265Nise-e Painter, son of Fujiwara Takanobu

Sculptors

NameLifeCommentsReference
Tori Busshilate 6th to early 7th centuriesBusshi, patron sculptor to Shōtoku Taishi and Soga no Umako
Jōchōd. 1057Busshi
popularized yosegi technique of carving one figure from many pieces of wood
Kaikeimid-to-late 12th centuryBusshi founder of the Kei school
Jōkeilate 12th centuryBusshi of the Kei school
Unkei1151–1223Busshi of the Kei school
Tankei1173–1256Busshi of the Kei school
Kōkeiactive 1175–1200Busshi head of the Kei school during reconstruction of Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji
Hidari Jingorōactive 1596–1644Painter, sculptor and carver, his works include many of the carvings at Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Enkū1632–1695Buddhist monk and Busshi sculptor
Gechuactive 18th centurySculptor
Naitō Toyomasa1773–1856Sculptor of netsuke[1]
Tetsuya NoguchiBorn 1980Sculptor
Chie AokiBorn 1981Sculptor[2]

Pottery and ceramics

NameLifeCommentsReference
Hamada Shōji1894–1978Potter, declared a Living National Treasure in 1955
Jun KanekoBorn 1942Potter and ceramics artist
Yo AkiyamaBorn 1953Ceramic artist of the Sōdeisha movement
Kimiyo MishimaBorn 1932Ceramic artist
Masaya ImanishiBorn 1947Ceramic artist

Sumire

NameLifeCommentsReference
Josetsu1405–1423Suiboku painter, likely a teacher of Tenshō Shūbun
Tenshō Shūbun1414–1463Sumi-e painter
Sesshū Tōyō1420–1506Associated with Sumi-e
Shingei1431–1485Also known as Geiami, yamato-e ink painter
Soamid. 1525Painter and landscape artist; one of the first nanga painters
Yosa Buson1716–1784Painter who perfected the nanga style, also a renowned poet
Ike no Taiga1723–1776Painter who perfected the nanga style
Koho Yamamoto1922-Student of Chiura Obata

Kanō School

See main article: Kanō school.

NameLifeCommentsReference
1434–1530Founder of the Kanō School, chief painter to Ashikaga shogunate during his time
1476–1559Painter of the Kanō School, son of Kanō Masanobu
Kanō Eitoku1543–1590Painter, re-founder of the Kanō school
Kanō Mitsunobud. 1608Son of Eitoku, inherited Kanō school after his father's death
Kanō Tan'yū1602–1674Prominent Kanō school painter, official painter to the Tokugawa shogunate
Kanō Hōgai1828–1888Among the last of the Kanō school painters, incorporated Western stylistic elements
Hashimoto Gahō1835–1908Among the last of the Kanō school painters, chief professor of painting at two schools

Rimpa School

NameLifeCommentsReference
Hon'ami Kōetsu1558–1637Painter, co-founder of the Rimpa school
Tawaraya Sōtatsud. 1643 Painter, co-founder of the Rimpa school
Ogata Kōrin1657–1716Painter and lacquerer, major figure in the Rimpa school
Ogata Kenzan1663–1743Painter and potter, major figure in the Rimpa school
Sakai Hōitsu1761–1828Painter, associated with the Rimpa school
Kamisaka Sekka1866–1942The most recent painting master of the Rimpa school and craftsman

Kyoto School

NameLifeCommentsReference
Tomioka Tessai1836–1924Painter and calligrapher of the Kyoto School
Maruyama Ōkyo1733–1795Sumi-e painter, founder of Shijō school
Kikuchi Yōsai1781–1878Painter of the Kyoto, Shijō, and Maruyama schools

Nihonga Painters

See main article: List of Nihonga Painters.

NameLifeCommentsReference
Yokoyama Taikan1868–1958Painter
Okuda Gensou1912–2003Nihonga painter of the Shōwa era, gave his name to 'Gensou red' pigment
Goto JinBorn 1968Nihonga painter of the Heisei era.Human Beauty paintings.[3]
Fuyuko MatsuiBorn 1974Contemporary Nihonga painter living in Tokyo.[4]

Eccentrics and smaller schools

NameLifeCommentsReference
Ogura Yonesuke Itoh1870–1940Japanese born painter of Hawaii's Volcano School
Otagaki Rengetsu1791–1851Calligrapher and poet
Hasegawa Settand. 1843Painter of the Hasegawa school, ukiyo-e printmaker, and sculptor
Hasegawa Tohaku1539–1610Ink painter, founder of the Hasegawa school
Shibata Zeshin1807–1891Painter trained in the Kyoto School, master craftsman and innovator, particularly in lacquer
Eijiro MiyamaBorn 1934Outsider artist known as the "Hat Man"

Ukiyo-e painters and printmakers

NameLifeCommentsReference
Hishikawa Moronobu1618–1694"Father of ukiyo-e
Torii Kiyonobu I1664–1729Printmaker [5]
Sukenobu1682–1752Ukiyo-e painter, Miyagawa school
Miyagawa Shunsuifl. -60sUkiyo-e painter, son and student of Miyagawa Chōshun
Miyagawa Isshōmid-18th centuryPainter, student of Miyagawa Chōshun
Okumura Masanobu1686–1764Printmaker, Torii school initially
Toriyama Sekien1712–1788Printmaker, teacher of Utamaro
Suzuki Harunobu1724–1770Printmaker
Katsukawa Shunshō1726–1792Printmaker, leading figure in the Katsukawa school
Sharakud. 1801One of the greatest and most mysterious ukiyo-e printmakers; career spanned only ten months[6]
Kitao Shigemasa1739–1820[7]
Torii Kiyonaga1752–1815Printmaker, Fourth titular head of the Torii school[8]
Utamaro1753–1806Printmaker, painter
Koryusai1735–1790Printmaker [9]
Hokusai1760–1849Ukiyo-e painter, woodblock print artist, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
Toyokuni1769–1825Printmaker, associated with the Utagawa school
Utagawa Kunimasa1773–1810Printmaker[10]
Toyohiro1773–1828Printmaker and painter of the Utagawa school, teacher of Hiroshige
Kawahara Keiga1786–1860?Painter on paper, silk and wood at Dejima, Nagasaki and on travels through Japan. Biological depictions of flowers and animals for Philipp Franz von Siebold, scenes with persons in- and outdoors, and at the court of Edo
Hiroshige1797–1858Ukiyo-e painter and woodblock print artist, Sixty-nine Stations on the Kiso Kaidō, Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and 100 Famous Views of Edo
Konishi Hirosada1810–1864Printmaker of the Osaka school[11]
Utagawa Kunisada II1823–1880Printmaker of the Utagawa school
Hokueid. 1837Printmaker
KunimasuUnknownPrintmaker
Kawanabe Kyosai1831–1889Student of Kuniyoshi, first Japanese political cartoonist
Toyohara Kunichika1835–1900Printmaker known for actor prints[12]
Yoshitoshi1839–1892[13]

Modern Artists

NameLifeCommentsReference
Koun Takamura1851–1934Father of Kotaro Takamura, sculptor of Ueno Park statue of Saigō Takamori
Tama Kiyohara1861–1939Western-style painter, wife of sculptor Vincenzo Ragusa, who lived 52 years in Sicily. Also known as Eleonora Ragusa
1866–1924Painter who introduced impressionism to Japan
1866–1934Impressionist painter trained in France
Okada Saburōsuke1869–1939Painter, mostly in the Yōga style, and art professor
Toyozo Arakawa1874–1985Well-known ceramic painter
Kotaro Takamura1883–1956Sculptor and poet, combining Western styles with Japanese tradition
Rosanjin1883–1959Calligrapher, ceramicist and restaurateur
Tsuguharu Foujita1886–1968Painter and engraver, applied French oil painting techniques to traditional Japanese painting
Ohno Bakufu1888–1976Painter and printmaker
Kawai Kanjirō1890–1966Potter and a key figure in mingei (Japanese folk art) and studio pottery movements
Yasuo Kuniyoshi1893–1953
Kanpū Ōmata1894–1947Painter and waka poet
Kaita Murayama1896–1919Painter, known primarily for his work as an author
Bumpei Usui1898–1994Painter, born in Japan, emigrated to New York in 1921
Ichiro Fukuzawa1896–1992Surrealist painter
Iwao Yamawaki1898–1987Bauhaus educated photographer and architect
Kenzo Okada1902–1982Abstract expressionist painter in New York City and Japan
Shiko Munakata1903–1975Woodcut artist, painter, and calligrapher
1903–1988Painter of World War II military scenes
Isamu Noguchi1904–1988Sculptor [14]
Jiro Yoshihara1905–1972Founding member of Gutai group
Migishi Setsuko1905–1999Painter and illustrator known as one of the pioneering Japanese women in oil painting[15]
Suda Kokuta1906–1990Abstract and Western-style painter, calligrapher
Hideo Date1907–2004Immigrated to California from Osaka, Japan. When in Los Angeles, he was influenced by artist and teacher Stanton MacDonald-Wright at the Art Students' League in Los Angeles.[16]
Taro Yashima1908–1994Children's book Illustrator and Author
Yozo Hamaguchi1909–2000Mezzotint printmaker
Minami Keiko1911–2004Aquatint engraver and printmaker
Yoshio Fujimaki1911–disappeared 1935Sōsaku-hanga woodblock printmaker
Itchiku Kubota1917–2003Textile artist[17]
Tomiyama Taeko1921–2021Visual artist, painter
Tsuruko Yamazaki1925–2019Avant-garde artist; member of the Gutai group[18]
Michio IharaBorn 1928Sculptor[19]
Tsunehisa Kimura1928–2008Photomontage artist
Shozo Shimamoto1928–2013Gutai group artist
Tezuka Osamu1928–1989Famous manga artist with works like Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion[20]
Yayoi KusamaBorn 1929Conceptual artist, self-described "obsessive artist"[21]
Minoru Niizuma1930–1998Abstract sculptor
Shigeo Fukuda1932–2009Sculptor, graphic artist and poster designer who created optical illusions
Ushio ShinoharaBorn 1932Japanese Neo-Dadaist artist
On Kawara1933–2014Conceptual Artist
Yoko OnoBorn 1933Conceptual and performance artist, singer, and widow of John Lennon
Born 1933Fog sculptor
Morino HiroakiBorn 1934Potter[22]
Shusaku Arakawa1936–2010Abstract painter and architect from Tokyo, living in New York since 1961
Keiichi TanaamiBorn 1936Multi-genre artist from Tokyo working as a graphic designer, illustrator, video artist and fine artist.[23]
Hiroshi TomihariBorn 1936Woodcut printmaker
Susumu ShinguBorn 1937Kinetic sculptor. His nature-inspired works are constructed of highly engineered materials, commonly steel and Teflon
Shotaro Ishinomori1938–1998Manga artist and mechanical designer of Cyborg 009 and Super Sentai (Goranger to J.A.K.Q.)
Junko ChodosBorn 1939Mixed media artist residing in the United States[24]
Kanda Nissho1937–1970Farmer and painter of agricultural scenes [25]
Michiko SuganumaBorn 1940Urushi lacquer artist, coating original technique to traditional Japanese-urushi[26]
Tetsuya NodaBorn 1940Print artist
Tadao OkazakiBorn 1943Painter
Go NagaiBorn 1945Manga artist and mechanical designer of Mazinger Z, Getter Robo and Devilman
Shigeru NakanishiBorn 1946Oil painter[27]
Kiyoto OtaBorn 1948Japanese-Mexican sculptor
Ryosuke CohenBorn 1948Mail artist
Naohisa InoueBorn 1948Surrealist painter of fantasy lands
Jin HomuraBorn 1948Oil painter, primarily in primary colors[28]
Susumu MatsushitaBorn 1950Manga artist, air painter, character designer and concept artist
Minoru Ohiraborn 1950Japanese-born artist in California
Toeko Tatsuno1950–2014Abstract painter, printmaker, and professor at Tama Art University
Yasumasa MorimuraBorn 1951Appropriation artist
Katsura FunakoshiBorn 1951Sculptor and printmaker
Yoshitaka AmanoBorn 1952Character designer, illustrator, printmaker, painter and sculptor
Shigeru MiyamotoBorn 1952Video game artist, character designer, director and producer of Nintendo
Naoyuki KatoBorn 1953Illustrator, focusing on mechanical designs and anime/manga concept art
Noriko ShinoharaBorn 1953Multi-disciplinary fine artist with drawing and printmaking series, "Cutie & Bullie".
Kenjiro OkazakiBorn 1955Painter, sculptor, architect theorist[29]
Tatsuo MiyajimaBorn 1957Conceptual artist based in Ibaraki, Japan[30]
Hiroshi SenjuBorn 1958, TokyoPainter, modernism expressed through ancient method of Japanese painting[31]
Yoshiteru OtaniBorn 1958Cartoonist[32]
Yoshitomo NaraBorn 1959Pop artist[33]
Yoshiko ShimadaBorn 1959Printmaker and video artist
Takeshi MotomiyaBorn 1959Abstract painter from Tokyo, living in Barcelona since 1986. Grandson of Japanese artists Migishi Setsuko and Migishi Kōtarō.
Osamu SatoBorn 1960Digital artist, photographer, and composer
Hiroshi Ōnishi1961–2011Painter, professor at Tokyo University of the Arts
Naoko TosaBorn 1961Media artist
Takashi MurakamiBorn 1962Sculptor and painter, founder of the Superflat movement[34]
Born 1963Visual artist
Minako NishiyamaBorn 1965Contemporary painter and sculptor[35]
Tomoko TakahashiBorn 1966Installation artist based in London
Born 1966Visual artist
Mariko MoriBorn 1967, Tokyo, JapanHighly celebrated contemporary video and photographic artist
Yoko NagayamaBorn 1968Enka singer, J-pop idol, actress[36]
Junichi KakizakiBorn 1971, NaganoSculptor, floral artist, land and environmental artist focusing on floral design
RokudenashikoBorn 1972Sculptor and manga artist
Miya AndoBorn 1973Award-winning Post-minimalist painter and sculptor working in aluminum, steel and glass
Mori ChackBorn 1973Graphics designer
Born 1972Visual artist
Chinatsu BanBorn 1973Painter and sculptor
Yurie NagashimaBorn 1973Photographer, writer and curator[37]
Tanabe Chikuunsai IVBorn 1973Bamboo master and sculptor
Tetsuya Ishida1973–2005Contemporary Surrealist painter
Fuyuki YamakawaBorn 1973Sound and performance artist
Yutaka InagawaBorn 1974Painter, line artist, photographer producing digital collage
Chiho AoshimaBorn 1974Pop artist in the Superflat movement
Aya TakanoBorn 1976Pop artist in the Superflat movement
Tetsuya NoguchiBorn 1980Contemporary artist and sculptor[38]
Tets OhnariBorn 1980Contemporary artist and sculptor living in Prague and Tokyo[39]
Aki SasamotoBorn 1980Performance artist based in New York City[40]
Nahoko KojimaBorn 1981Contemporary paper cut artist, pioneered Kirie as sculpture[41]
Kohei FujitoBorn 1983Contemporary Ainu folk artist
Mitsunori KimuraBorn 1983Japanese contemporary artist
Tsubasa KatoBorn 1984Japanese contemporary artist
Mari KatayamaBorn 1987Japanese multimedia artist and photographer[42]
You ShiinaBirthdate unknownJapanese illustrator and manga artist[43]
Yuki IiyamaBorn 1988Japanese contemporary artist[44]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=browse&dept=japan&method=artist&searchtype=2&term=Naito%20Toyomasa%20%28Artist%29. lacma.org. 2006-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004421/http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=browse&dept=japan&method=artist&searchtype=2&term=Naito%20Toyomasa%20(Artist). 2011-05-14. dead.
  2. Web site: BODY 09-1 "Impact" . 2009 . Aoki Chie . artsmia.org . March 9, 2019.
  3. Web site: GOTO JIN Official website. gotojin.web.fc2.com.
  4. Web site: 日本画家・絵本画家 後藤仁 公式サイト「後藤 仁(GOTO JIN)のアトリエ」Japanese painting JIN GOTO Official website(Japanese). gotojin.web.fc2.com.
  5. Web site: "Kiyonobu I" "Japanese artist" -britannica - Google Search. google.com.
  6. Web site: Toshusai Sharaku. artcyclopedia.com.
  7. Web site: WebCite query result. https://web.archive.org/web/20091021031509/http://geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/1787/shigemasa.html . 2009-10-21. dead.
  8. Web site: Artist's profile KIYONAGA . 2006-01-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060211072254/http://www.adachi-hanga.com/hp_english/en_artists-profiles_kiyonaga.htm . 2006-02-11 .
  9. Web site: Kimbell Art Museum . 2006-01-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051227115956/http://www.kimbellart.org/database/index.cfm?detail=yes&ID=AP%201984.23 . 2005-12-27 .
  10. Web site: Utagawa Kunimasa, The actor Ichikawa Ebizō in a shibaraku role, a colour woodblock print. The British Museum. Google Arts & Culture.
  11. Web site: Hirosada - artelino. artelino.com.
  12. Web site: Kunichika Woodblock Print Collection - Modern Genji - Ohmi Gallery. ohmigallery.com.
  13. Web site: Sinister Designs: Yoshitoshi Tsukioka. sinister-designs.com.
  14. Web site: Home. noguchi.org.
  15. Web site: ICHINOMIYA CITY MEMORIAL ART MUSEUM of SETSUKO MIGISHI. January 4, 2019.
  16. Web site: Hideo Date Collection. janm.org.
  17. Web site: Cultures - Canadian Museum of History. civilization.ca.
  18. Web site: Tsuruko Yamazaki (1925–2019). www.artforum.com. 13 June 2019 . en-US. 2020-01-08.
  19. Web site: DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park: Michio Ihara . 2006-01-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060103045322/http://www.decordova.org/decordova/sculp_park/ihara.html . 2006-01-03 .
  20. Web site: Osamu Tezuka. IMDb.
  21. Web site: Yayoi Kusama Artwork . 2006-03-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060324042434/http://www.fantasyarts.net/Yayoi_Kusama_artwork.htm . 2006-03-24 .
  22. Web site: Shigemasa . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091021031509/http://geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/1787/shigemasa.html . 2009-10-21 .
  23. Web site: Keiichi Tanaami.
  24. Web site: Home. mysteryofart.
  25. Web site: 神田日勝記念美術館入り口 . 2006-05-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060620231349/http://town.shikaoi.hokkaido.jp/kanda/ . 2006-06-20 .
  26. http://lacquer.tafejapan.com
  27. Web site: 中西 繁 アートギャラリー/個展「哀愁のパリ」で鮮烈に画壇デビュー. biglobe.ne.jp.
  28. Web site: 墜恗旤弍娰. mmtr.or.jp.
  29. Web site: 岡崎乾二郎 - Kenjiro Okazaki. kenjirookazaki.com.
  30. Web site: Tatsuo Miyajima.
  31. Web site: Hiroshi Senju Studio. hiroshisenju.com.
  32. Web site: Schulz museum honors 'Peanuts'. 28 September 2007. DeseretNews.com.
  33. Web site: Yoshitomo Nara . 2005-08-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050923115228/http://www.assemblylanguage.com/reviews/Nara.html . 2005-09-23 .
  34. Web site: Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.. kaikaikiki.co.jp.
  35. Book: Nakai, Yasuyuki. Minako Nishiyama: Pink, Pink, Pink. Otani Memorial Art Museum. 1997. Nishinomiya City, Japan.
  36. Web site: The Art of Mariko Mori. kyotojournal.org. 2011-08-19.
  37. Web site: Art Platform Japan . 2023-08-15 . Art Platform Japan.
  38. News: Larking . Matthew . World-weary and resigned, yet the samurai spirit soldiers on . 1 June 2021 . The Japan Times . 3 July 2014. 3 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603114247/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/07/03/arts/world-weary-resigned-yet-samurai-spirit-soldiers/. live.
  39. Web site: tets ohnari. www.tetsohnari.com.
  40. Web site: Aki Sasamoto Whitney Museum of American Art. whitney.org. 2016-03-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307113505/http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/2010Biennial/AkiSasamoto. 2016-03-07.
  41. Web site: Contemporary Paper Cut Art - Sculpture - Nahoko Kojima. Nahoko Kojima. 2013-09-18.
  42. Web site: [shell-kashime.com Mari Katayama]. shell-kashime.com.
  43. Web site: Summary Bibliography: 椎名優. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. November 7, 2022. November 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221107200043/https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?258356. live.
  44. Web site: Art Platform Japan . 2023-08-15 . Art Platform Japan.