脇田 和

Kazu Wakita: A Unique Poetic Voice in Modern Japanese Painting

Born in Aoyama, Tokyo, in 1908 as the second son among twelve siblings, Kazu Wakita developed his artistic sensibility in a rich natural environment, nurtured by the influence of his father and grandmother, both of whom had a deep appreciation for the arts.

In 1925, at the age of fifteen, he moved to Germany following his elder sister’s marriage to a diplomat stationed in Berlin.

Demonstrating remarkable talent from an early age, Wakita became the youngest student admitted to the prestigious Berlin Academy of Fine Arts. Eight years later, he graduated with a Gold Medal, returning to Japan where his engagement with the Japanese art world led to a profound maturation of his artistic style.

Wakita’s world of gentle and lyrical poetry is imbued with warmth and sensitivity. Beneath its serene atmosphere lies a strong structural foundation rooted in the compositional principles he absorbed in Germany, lending his works a distinctive sense of tension and quiet sophistication.

Biography

1908: Born in Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

1925: Entered the Berlin State Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied figure drawing and wood engraving.

1930: Graduated from the academy with a Gold Medal and returned to Japan.

1936: Participated in the founding of the Shinseisaku-ha Association and subsequently exhibited regularly in its annual exhibitions.

1955: Received the Grand Prize at the 3rd International Art Exhibition of Japan.

1991: Opened the Wakita Museum of Art in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, fulfilling a long-held dream, and became its director.

2005: Passed away from a myocardial infarction at the age of 97.

Public Collections

Wakita Museum of Art

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Shimane Art Museum

Fukuoka Art Museum

The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art