Biography
Kusaka Kenji is a Japanese woodblock printmaker born in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, who trained under Nagare Koji and mastered traditional woodblock techniques. In the 1960s he gained international recognition through print biennials in Tokyo, Ljubljana, Sao Paulo, and Florence, winning several awards. His prints present abstract and semi-abstract forms with vivid colors, strong tonal contrasts, and recurring motifs of egg shapes and cloud-like forms, and are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the British Museum.
Key Facts
- Active Period
- 1936
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Movement
- Contemporary Mokuhanga
- Works Indexed
- 61
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kusaka Kenji known for?
Kusaka Kenji is a Japanese woodblock printmaker born in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, who trained under Nagare Koji and mastered traditional woodblock techniques. In the 1960s he gained international recognition through print biennials in Tokyo, Ljubljana, Sao Paulo, and Florence, winning several awards. His prints present abstract and semi-abstract forms with vivid colors, strong tonal contrasts, and recurring motifs of egg shapes and cloud-like forms, and are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the British Museum.
When was Kusaka Kenji active?
Kusaka Kenji was active born in 1936. They were associated with the Contemporary Mokuhanga movement.
What artistic movements influenced Kusaka Kenji?
Kusaka Kenji's work was shaped by the Contemporary Mokuhanga tradition in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Contemporary Mokuhanga: Contemporary mokuhanga (literally "wood-block print") encompasses artists working from approximately 1970 to the present who continue or reinvent traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.
Where can I see Kusaka Kenji's original prints?
Original prints by Kusaka Kenji can be found in collections including Art Institute of Chicago, ukiyo-e.org, Honolulu Museum of Art, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Woodblock Prints by Kusaka Kenji (61)
Evening Twilight at Haneda Airport (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century 東京百景 21世紀へのメッセジ)
1989-99
Color woodblock print
Kusaka Kenji
Woodblock print
An00224318 001 L
Woodblock print
Senhyo - 3
Woodblock print
Prayer
Woodblock print
Work 69 . 23
Woodblock print
Seashore #3
Woodblock print
Sakuhin 1 (Work No. 1)
Woodblock print
Work 67. 3
Woodblock print
Arashiyama - 嵐山
Woodblock print
Swans
Woodblock print
HANA (flowers)
Woodblock print
Works, No.4
Woodblock print
Unknown Landscape
Woodblock print
Unknown, bijin
Woodblock print
Boats on Tehe Lake
Woodblock print
Seto Naikai- Seto Inland Sea
Woodblock print
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Mt Fuji Seen from Numazu
Woodblock print
Late fall — 晩秋
Woodblock print
Sanjo Bridge — 三条大橋
Woodblock print
Arashiyama: Kyoto
Woodblock print
Shijo Bridge in Kyoto from the Rivers Series
Woodblock print
Flower (K52)
Woodblock print
Sun and Bird
Woodblock print
Flower Vase on Table 2
Woodblock print
Flower 502
Woodblock print
Flower 304
Woodblock print
Flower 15
Woodblock print
Flower 13
Woodblock print
Flower 14
Woodblock print
Flower K 33
Woodblock print
totalCount
Woodblock print
CHORUI (birds) SA
Woodblock print
Morning
Woodblock print
HANA (flowers) 77-B
Woodblock print
Tree with sun and two birds
Woodblock print
CHORUI (birds) 77 102
Woodblock print
ASA (morning)
Woodblock print
Fruit tree and birds
Woodblock print
Birds and sun
Woodblock print
Quiet Day A-18
Woodblock print
North Country A
Woodblock print
Green trees
Woodblock print
Flower 302
Woodblock print
Work 70-14
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kusaka-kenji)
Woodblock print