Original Modern & Contemporary Japanese Prints

Deep Pigments: Akira Kurosaki - Printmaker, Teacher, Standard-Bearer

Akira Kurosaki (1937–2019) was a pioneering mokuhanga (木版画) artist, known for merging traditional Japanese woodblock printing with abstract compositions and surreal landscapes. His work is characterised by deep, vivid colours - royal reds, purples, and blacks - and a clear graphic style that helped define modern Japanese printmaking.

Born in Dalian, Manchuria, Kurosaki returned to Japan after the war and studied design at Kyoto Institute of Technology, where an interest in ukiyo-e led to a lifelong focus on printmaking. He worked within the sōsaku hanga tradition, producing every part of the print himself. His contributions were recognised with major awards, including the Gold Prize at the Florence International Print Biennale and Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Remembered fondly, Kurosaki left an educational legacy as enduring as his art. A dedicated teacher and scholar, he became professor and head of the Printmaking Department at Kyoto Seika University (京都精華大学) in 1987, where he also helped establish woodblock and papermaking programs. He taught widely, travelled internationally, and mentored a generation of artists. His works are held in major collections including the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.