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Edutainment > Articles on Art > Contemporary Art Japan > Takashi Kitami - born 1952

Takashi Kitami

Astronomy, 1988
copyright Takashi Kitami

Takashi Kitami is a very interesting Japanese artist. His art work is appealing, individual and bursts of creativity. On the domestic Japanese art market he has become a kind of rising star for the last four years.

The way it looks like Takashi Kitami might soon grab for the stars of International art fame. Collectors of contemporary Japanese art should have a closer look at this outstanding artist.

From the Baby Boomer Generation

Takashi was born in Tokyo in 1952 - a child of the post-war baby boomers. He showed an early interest in drawing and painting and entered Musashino Art College. He graduated in 1976 for commercial arts.

Kitami has one thing in common with Pop Art artists like Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein. His origins are in commercial design and not in Fine Arts. He considers the distinction between commercial art and fine art as nonsense anyway - how right he is! Thus he is in the best tradition of the old ukiyo-e masters. Or as Andy Warhol once expressed it, there is only good and bad art.

The young man made his way as illustrator for book covers and magazines. He designed graphic works like posters or theater billboards.

Angel Dreams

In 1990 the artist began to create original paintings and prints that were not commissioned by a magazine or book publisher. Kitami uses acrylics for original paintings and transforms them into lithographs or silkscreens.

Over the years, Kitami developed a favorite theme - angels. Angels became his trademark. And from then on some benign forms of invisible angels must have cast their magic wand power over Kitami - on his way to become a great and famous artist.

Soon a Major League Player?

In 1997 Kitami Takashi won the Golden Apple Award at the International Biennial of Illustrations in Bratislava in Slovakia. After 1998 the artist kind of sky-rocketed as a brightly shining star in the Japanese art market. He was suddenly represented with a bunch of solo shows by top galleries in Tokyo - located in the Ginza district. This is best comparable to Soho in New York where you can find an abundance of exclusive and expensive galleries.

Another very prestigious and uniquely Japanese form of art shows take place in department stores. Kitami had several of these events lately.

• 1952�- Born in Tokyo.
• 1976�- Graduated from Musashino University of Arts, Commercial Design.
• 1987�- Exhibition at HB Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1988�- 13th San Rio Art Award.
• 1989�- Exhibition at Gallery House MAYA, Tokyo.
• 1991�- Exhibition at TIAS, Tokyo.
• 1991 - Exhibition at Printemps Art Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1992�- Art Show at Tamagawa Takashimaya Arte Spaccio, Tokyo.
• 1992 - Art Show at Shibuya Seibu Art Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1993�- Exhibition at World Art Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1994�- Art Show at Maki Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1995�- Art Show at JR Osaka Gallery, Osaka.
• 1995 - Exhibition at Ikebukuro Tobu Art Gallery, Tokyo.
• 1997 - Kitami Takashi received the "Golden Apple Award" at Blatislava International Illustration Picture Book Biennial.
• 1998�- Exhibition at Shinjyuku Isetan Art Gallery, Tokyo.
• 2004 - Exhibition "Creation" at Granship Space, Shizuoka/Japan.

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Contemporary Art Japan