Biography
Takako Azami
1964
Born in Saitama, Japan
1988
Graduated from Tama Art University, Majored in Japanese Painting (BFA)
2004
Studied in Japan under ‘Arts Internship’ by Agency for Cultural Affairs
2007
Granted a fellowship to study in the US for a period of one year, Japanese Government Overseas Study
Programme for Artists
2008
Residency, International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York, USA
2009
Freeman Fellowship grant for Vermont Studio Center residency for Artists, USA
Pola Art Foundation grant (in support of art-related international exchange), Japan
2010
Artist in Residence, Kurashiki, Ohara 2010 Takako Azami, Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan
Art Omi International Residency, New York, USA
2012
Special Prize at “The 5th Kaii Higashiyama Memorial NIKKEI Grand Prize on Japanese Painting,” NIKKEI INK.
Solo Exhibitions
2013
Galleria Finarte, Aichi
2012
“Crazy for Painting, Vol.4 Takako Azami,” Gallery αM, Tokyo
2011
“Photosynthesis,” Art Front Gallery, Tokyo
2010
“Artist in Residence, Kurashiki, Ohara 2010 Takako Azami,” Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
2009
“Viewing Light,” M.Y. Art Prospects, New York
2008
“Individual Studio Visits,” ISCP, Gallery Space & Studio 305, New York
“Takako Azami ‘New Paintings’,” M.Y. Art Prospects, Project Room, New York
“Takako Azami ‘Back Room Exhibition’,” M.Y. Art Prospects, New York
2007
“Viewing Light,” Art Front Gallery, Tokyo
2006
“Viewing Light,” Art Interactive Tokyo, Tokyo
2005
Gertsev Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Citizens Gallery of Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo
2004
Gallery Nagai, Tokyo
2003
Shibata Etsuko Gallery, Tokyo (also in ’02 and ’00)
2002
Galleria Chimera, Tokyo
Ai Gallery, Tokyo (also in ’97, ’96, ’94 and ’92)
2001
“Power of Rebirth,” M.Y. Art Prospects, New York, U.S.A.
2000
“The Power of Rebirth,” Exhibition Space, Tokyo International Forum
1999
Gallery Futaba, Tokyo
1998
Ono Gallery, Tokyo
Gallery Jin, Tokyo
1997
Gallery Tonichi Shinjuku, Tokyo
1996
Joraku-an, Saitama
1995
Gallery Kohchi, Tokyo
1993
Coffee Shop Moku-tei, Saitama
G- Art Gallery, Tokyo
Group Exhibitions
2014
“Okakura Tenshin in Commemoration of the 100 year Anniversary of his death,” The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, Ibaraki
“Quintet: Five-Star Artists,” Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, Tokyo
2013
“[Villa Yurinso Special Autumn Exhibition 2013] Metamorphosis of Plants,” Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
“‘Wakaranai’ No Susume,” The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, Ibaraki
“Ohara Contemporary,” Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
2012
“Expression of Light, Shadow and Time in Contemporary Art,” Okazaki Mindscape Museum, Aichi
“MOA Museum of Art 30th Anniversary. Special Exhibition The 18th Mokichi Okada Award -The Vision of Japanese Paintings and Japanese Crafts- Curator’s Selection,” MOA Museum of Art, Shizuoka
“The 5th Kaii Higashiyama Memorial NIKKEI Grand Prize on Japanese Painting,” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo
2011
“Theme Exhibition 33 ‘Lights of Sakazu,’ ” Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
2010
“Ohara Best” Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
“Art Omi Open Weekend,” Omi International Arts Center, New York
“Katyo-ga Today” Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art. Ibaraki, Ibaraki
“AZAMI, Takako + HIRATAI, Fumie,” Gallery Terashita, Tokyo
2009
” ‘DOMANI: The Art of Tomorrow 2009 Exhibition,’ The Achievements of the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists,” Agency for Cultural Affairs, The National Art Center. Tokyo
“Suibokuga Today 2009,” The Suiboku Museum, Toyama and Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo
2008
“Kaleidoscope: Abstraction in 10 Ways,” New Jersey City University, Harold B. Lemmerman Gallery, Jersey City
“ISCP Open Studio ‘ISCP Grand Opening East Williamsburg’,” International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York
2007
“Purchase of Outstanding Works of Art, Exhibition, Organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs,” The Japan Art Academy, Tokyo
“26th Outstanding Rising Artists Exhibition in 2007,” Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, Tokyo
2006
“The Vision of ‘Nihonga‘: Between the Inside and the Outside,” The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama
“The Tenth International Art Fair ‘Art Moscow’,” Moscow City Hall Cultural Committee, Moscow
2005
“Chiba Art Flash ’05,” Chiba Citizens Gallery Inage, Chiba
2004
“The 2nd Kaii Higashiyama Memorial NIKKEI Grand Prize on Japanese Painting,” New Otani Art Museum, Tokyo
“Bookmark Exhibition 2004,” Ai Gallery, Tokyo
“VOCA 2004: The Vision of Contemporary Art,” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo
“Post Nihongaism: Its was Once Called Nihonga,” Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo
“Suibokuga Today 2004,” The Suiboku Museum, Toyama
2003
“Nihonga Today-And the Venturing Artists,” Okazaki Mindscape Museum, Aichi
“Twinkling Touch: Japanese and Western Pointillism,” Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka
2002
“Collection,” Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo
“Special Exhibition Bokugi: Charms of Suibokuga,” The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama
“Collections,” Exhibition Space, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo
2000
“Green, Nature and Longing for Woods,” Nagano Prefectural Ina Culture Hall, Nagano
1999
“Ten… ,” Ai Gallery, Tokyo
1998
“[Bi] and [Jutsu] 1998 Takako Azami / Mariko Yamamoto,” Ai Gallery, Tokyo
“Group Show,” Shibata Etsuko Gallery, Tokyo / Gallery You, Kyoto
“The Natural History of Color: Black and White -Lingering Quiet Light,” Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo
“Ten to Ten ’98,” Chichibu Public Library, Saitama [also in ’97]
“Techniques of Contemporary Art 3 ‘Nihonga’: Purity and Transgression -From the Viewpoints of the 90’s,” Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo
“Kanagawa Art Annual ’98,” Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Kanagawa
“Pre-Opening Exhibition Part I,” Gallery Jin, Tokyo
1997
“’97 The Selected Contemporary Art,” Premier Gallery, Tokyo
“The 15th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition,” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo / Fukuoka City Art Museum, Fukuoka
“Two Persons Show,” Mominoki Gallery, Tokyo
1996
“Ten to Ten ’96,” Coffee Shop Moku-tei, Saitama
1995
“The 13th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition,” The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo
1994
“Two Persons Show,” Toshiba-Fuchu ES Gallery, Tokyo
“nun,” Awajicho Gallery, Tokyo [also in ’93 and ’92]
1993
“Tannan Art Festival ’93 ‘Takefu’,” Takefu Central Park, Fukui
1991
“Ki-Ten,” Azabu Art Craft Museum, Tokyo
1990
“Ki-Ten,” Yurakucho Asahi Gallery, Tokyo / Ninomiya Art Museum, Oita
1989
“Ki-Ten,” Yurakucho Asahi Gallery, Tokyo
“The Paper Works of Contemporary Art Imadate ’89,” Fukui Imadate Training Center, Fukui
“Expression on Site ’89,” Kaminoge College, Tama Art University, Tokyo [also in ’88]
1988
“Kanagawa Prefecture Art Exhibition,” Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Kanagawa
Collections
Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama Japan
The Toyosu Tower, Japan
The Peninsula Tokyo, Japan
Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, Japan
Gertsev Gallery, Russia
Conrad Tokyo, Japan
Okazaki Mindscape Museum, Japan
Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan
Selected References
2009
Jonathan Goodman, “Takako Azami at M.Y. Art Prospects,” Exhibition review, artcritical.com, http://artcritical.com, June 2009.
Hiromasa Yagi, “Suibokuga Today 2009: The Present Sites of Ink Expressions,” Shumi no Suibokuga Monthly Magazine, March issue, pp. 20-21.
Introduction to Artists, Catalogue of Exhibition, The Suiboku Museum, Toyama and Nerima Art Museum, pp. 88-89.
2008
Takako Azami, “Remaining Three Months in New York,” Shumi no Suibokuga Monthly Magazine, Artist’s Correspondence, August issue, p. 99.
Koichiro Noji, “The Ink Expressions of Young Artists Have Come Far: Creative Possibilities Using Sumi Ink,” Shumi no Suibokuga Monthly Magazine, Feature article from June issue, pp. 20-21.
Hideki Nakamura, “A Self-Reliant Internal Mind that Converses with the External World/The Other: Self-Development Via Temporary Visual Expressions,” ‘The Traces of Azami’s Hand Movements that Derived from Her Infinitesimally Small Eye Movements,’ Magazine Shiso, Iwanami Shoten, Publishers, Vol. 5, No.1009, pp. 10-14.
2007
Interview: Takako Azami, “Leaves and Branches, Bathed within Light,” Ikebana Ryusei Monthly Magazine, No. 570, October issue, back cover.
Katsuhiko Yokoyama, “54th Painted History Takako Azami,” Bijutsu Techo Monthly Art Magazine, Vol. 59, No. 898, August issue, pp. 213-216.
Reiichi Noguchi, “Trees 2,” Catalogue of Exhibition, Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, p. 11.
2006
Kazuo Amano, “Takako Azami: Awake in the Chaos,” Leaflet of Exhibition, Art Interactive Tokyo.
Takako Azami, “Notes on Creating and Showing,” Leaflet of Exhibition, Art Interactive Tokyo.
2005
Nana Eristavi, “Hidden in Winter,” Catalogue of solo Exhibition, Gertsev Gallery, p. 4.
Takako Azami, “The Act of Making Attempts,” Comment on the Solo Exhibition, Meguro Museum of Art, Citizen’s Gallery.
Akio Sagegami, “Refreshing Bunjinga (literary style of painting) Lineage: Takako Azami Exhibition,” Review, Complex 001. February 2005, Genba Kenkyukai, pp. 9-10.
2004
Reiko Kokatsu, “Murmur of air Drifting – Happiness and Uneasy of Takako Azami,” Catalogue of Exhibition, Nihon Keizai Shinbun, Inc., p.12.
Koichiro Noji, “Pine is Alive ‘Pine’s’ Own: The Ink Painting of Takako Azami,” Leaflet of Exhibition, Gallery Nagai.
Kiyomi Takano, ” ‘Aerial movement’ Represented by Black Dots,” The Yomiuri Shimbun, Evening Paper, March 12, p. 17.
Yuri Mitsuda, “Painting Waves of Particles,” Catalogue of Exhibition, The Ueno Royal Museum, p. 18.
“Throbbing Energy, ‘Spirit 2003’,” Exhibition review, Kitanihon Shimbun, Daily newspaper, March 6, p. 25.
Takako Azami, Artist’s Comment, Catalogue of Exhibition, The Suiboku Museum, Toyama, p. 68.
2003
Koh Fukutomi, “The Ink Paintings of Takako Azami,” Introduction to Contemporary Artists, Art Forum 21, vol.8, Summer 2003, pp. 156-158.
Takako Azami, Artist’s Comment, DOT/NET, Document of Exhibition, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, p. 14.
Masato Horikiri, “Twinkling Touch: Japanese and Western Pointillism,” Description, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, pp. 196-197.
Shogo Otani, “Takako Azami Exhibit,” Kitchen Chimera, vol.023, Chimera Inc. pp. 7-11.
2002
Akio Sagegami, Exhibition review, Shodokai Monthly Magazine, December issue, pp. 58-59.
Introduction to Artists, Catalogue of Exhibition, The Okayama Prefactural Museum of Art, p. 170.
“Takako Azami, The Air of Persimmon Tree,” Exhibition review, Geijyutsu Shincho Monthly Magazine, April issue, p. 120.
Miyako Yoshinaga, “In The New York,” Kitchen Chimera, vol.021, pp. 10-12.
2000
Natsuko Kusanagi, “Exhibition of Takako Azami: The Power of Rebirth,” Review, Tokyo Shimbun, Evening Paper, June 2, p. 4.
Chikako Furihata, ” ‘Humidity’ and ‘Quality’ of Painting,” Catalogue of solo Exhibition, Exhibition Space, p. 1.
1998
Akio Sagegami, Exhibition review, Shodokai Monthly Magazine, October issue, p. 59.
Introduction to Artists, Catalogue of Exhibition, Meguro Museum of Art, p. 89.
Takako Azami, Artist’s Comment, Catalogue of Exhibition, Nerima Art Museum, p. 10.
Kazuo Amano, “Waiting for Appearance of Something Strange Around Ink Painting: for Exhibition of Takako Azami,” Pamphlet of solo Exhibition, Gallery Jin.
Takako Azami, Artist’s Comment, Catalogue of Exhibition, Kanagawa Prefectual Gallery, p. 10.
1997
Ryosuke Matsuura, Exhibition review, Gekkan Bijutsu Monthly Magazine, No.264, September issue, p. 149.
Catalogs
“Ohara Contemporary,” Ohara Museum of Art, 2013
“MOA Museum of Art 30th Anniversary. Special Exhibition The 18th Mokichi Okada Award -The Vision of Japanese Paintings and Japanese Crafts- Curator’s Selection,” MOA Museum of Art, 2012
“The 5th Kaii Higashiyama Memorial NIKKEI Grand Prize on Japanese Painting,” NIKKEI INK., 2012
“Artist Residence, Kurashiki, Ohara 2010 Takako Azami,” Ohara Museum of Art, 2011
“Katyo-ga Today,” Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art. Ibaraki, 2010
“‘DOMANI: The Art of Tomorrow 2009 Exhibition,’ The Achievements of the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists,” Agency for Cultural Affairs, 2009
“Viewing Light,” M.Y. Art Prospects, 2009
“Artwork purchased by Agency for Cultural Affairs,” The Japan Art Academy, 2009
“Suibokuga Today 2009,” The Suiboku Museum, Toyama and Nerima Art Museum, 2009
“Art Front Gallery Cataloge Vol.2,” Art Front Gallery, 2009
“Viewing Light,” Art Front Gallery, 2007
“Artwork purchased by Agency for Cultural Affairs,” The Japan Art Academy, 2007
“26th Outstanding Rising Artists Exhibition in 2007,” Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, 2007
“The Vision of ‘Nihonga‘: between inside and outside,” The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, 2006
“Chiba Art Flash ’05,” Chiba Citizens Gallery Inage, 2005
“Takako Azami Solo Exhibition,” Gertsev Gallery, 2005
“The 2nd Kaii Higashiyama Memorial NIKKEI Grand Prize on Japanese Painting,” Nihon Keizai Shinbun, Inc., 2004
“VOCA 2004 The Vision of Contemporary Art,” The Ueno Royal Museum, 2004
“Post Nihongaism Its was once called Nihonga,” Nerima Art Museum, 2004
“Suibokuga Today 2004,” The Suiboku Museum, 2004
“Nihonga Today: And the Venturing Artists,” Okazaki Mindscape Museum, 2003
” ‘DOT/NET’ Document of ‘Twinkling Touch: Japanese and Western Pointillism’,” Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, 2003
“Twinkling Touch: Japanese and Western Pointillism,” Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art
“Special Exhibition Bokugi: Charms of Suibokuga,” The Okayama Prefactural Museum of Art, 2002
“Green, Nature and Longing for Woods,” Nagano Prefectural Ina Culture Hall, 2000
“Takako Azami solo Exhibition: The Power of Rebirth,” Exhibition Space, 2000
“The natural history of the color Black and White Lingerring Quiet Light,” Meguro Museum of Art，1998
“Techniques of Contemporary Art 3 ‘Nihonga‘: Purity and Border Crossing: From the 1990’s Perspective,” Nerima Art Museum, 1998
“Kanagawa Art Annual ’98,” Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, 1998
“The 15th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition,” The Ueno Royal Museum, 1997
“The 13th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition,” The Ueno Royal Museum, 1995
“Tannan Art Festival ’93 ‘Takefu’,” Takefu Central Park, 1993
“Expression on Site ’89,” Kaminoge College, Tama Art University, 1989