Presentation

Kumi Sugaï (Japanese, 1919–1996) was a painter and printmaker, who moved to Paris and adopted a western style in his art. Born in Kobe to Malaysian musicians, Sugai attended the Osaka School of Fine Arts, where he learned about European painting techniques in addition to classical Japanese painting and calligraphy.

In 1937, he dropped out to work as a designer at a railway company until the end of World War II. In 1952, Kumi Sugaï moved to Paris and absorbed western styles, including Abstract Expressionism, and later, Minimalism and Pop Art. At first, Sugai worked with traditional ukiyo-e woodblock techniques, using bright colors to create prints infused with contemporary western influences.

In the 1960s, however, Sugai transitioned into painting and printing more geometric images of letters and traffic and directional signs. He quickly met international success, and exhibited work at the Sao Paulo Biennale, documenta at Kassel, and the Venice Biennale, as well as solo shows in New York and Tokyo.

In addition to painting, Kumi Sugaï wrote essays on his artistic process and, inspired by his friend, Alberto Giacometti (Swiss, 1901–1966), translated the subject matter of some of his paintings into small sculptures. Though his work fell out of the public eye, Sugai continued to work in his geometric style for the rest of his life. Sugai died in his hometown of Kobe in 1996.
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All artworks of Kumi Sugaï
Print, S (Grand soleil), Kumi Sugaï

S (Grand soleil)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$740

Print, Variation I, Kumi Sugaï

Variation I

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, Holiday 3, Kumi Sugaï

Holiday 3

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 29.2 x 25.1 cm

$683

Print, Ultimes 4, Kumi Sugaï

Ultimes 4

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 56 x 76 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, Ultimes 5, Kumi Sugaï

Ultimes 5

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 56 x 76 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, Ultimes 2, Kumi Sugaï

Ultimes 2

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, Quatre flèches, Kumi Sugaï

Quatre flèches

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$740

Print, S (Flèche jaune), Kumi Sugaï

S (Flèche jaune)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$740

Print, 95, Kumi Sugaï

95

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 78 x 57 x 1 cm

$626

Print, Ultimes 1, Kumi Sugaï

Ultimes 1

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, Ultimes 3, Kumi Sugaï

Ultimes 3

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm

$683

Print, S (Trois), Kumi Sugaï

S (Trois)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$740

Print, S (Festival), Kumi Sugaï

S (Festival)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$740

Print, S (Flèches rouges), Kumi Sugaï

S (Flèches rouges)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$740

Print, S (Miroir), Kumi Sugaï

S (Miroir)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$740

Print, Holiday 2, Kumi Sugaï

Holiday 2

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 29.2 x 25.1 cm

$683

Print, Holiday 5, Kumi Sugaï

Holiday 5

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 29.2 x 25.1 cm

$683

Print, Holiday 4, Kumi Sugaï

Holiday 4

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 29.2 x 25.1 cm

$683

Print, Crossing 5, Kumi Sugaï

Crossing 5

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 25.1 x 29.2 cm

$683

Print, S (flèches bleues), Kumi Sugaï

S (flèches bleues)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$512

Print, Les nostalgies, Kumi Sugaï

Les nostalgies

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 16 x 14.5 x 4 cm

$285

Print, S (Rouge et bleu), Kumi Sugaï

S (Rouge et bleu)

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 65 x 50 cm

Sold

Print, Sans titre, Kumi Sugaï

Sans titre

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Print, Quatre flèches, Kumi Sugaï

Quatre flèches

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 76 x 65 x 0.2 cm

Sold

Print, Juillet 93, Kumi Sugaï

Juillet 93

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 78 x 57 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Etude pour La Femme, Kumi Sugaï

Etude pour La Femme

Kumi Sugaï

Fine Art Drawings - 66 x 50 cm

Sold

Print, Abstract Composition, Kumi Sugaï

Abstract Composition

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 63 x 47 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Print, Novembre 93, Kumi Sugaï

Novembre 93

Kumi Sugaï

Print - 78 x 57 x 1 cm

Sold

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Who is the artist?

Kumi Sugaï (Japanese, 1919–1996) was a painter and printmaker, who moved to Paris and adopted a western style in his art. Born in Kobe to Malaysian musicians, Sugai attended the Osaka School of Fine Arts, where he learned about European painting techniques in addition to classical Japanese painting and calligraphy. In 1937, he dropped out to work as a designer at a railway company until the end of World War II. In 1952, Kumi Sugaï moved to Paris and absorbed western styles, including Abstract Expressionism, and later, Minimalism and Pop Art. At first, Sugai worked with traditional ukiyo-e woodblock techniques, using bright colors to create prints infused with contemporary western influences. In the 1960s, however, Sugai transitioned into painting and printing more geometric images of letters and traffic and directional signs. He quickly met international success, and exhibited work at the Sao Paulo Biennale, documenta at Kassel, and the Venice Biennale, as well as solo shows in New York and Tokyo. In addition to painting, Kumi Sugaï wrote essays on his artistic process and, inspired by his friend, Alberto Giacometti (Swiss, 1901–1966), translated the subject matter of some of his paintings into small sculptures. Though his work fell out of the public eye, Sugai continued to work in his geometric style for the rest of his life. Sugai died in his hometown of Kobe in 1996.

What are their 3 main works?

What is Kumi Sugaï’s artistic movement?

The artistic movements of the artists are: Colorful Geometric Painters, Suprematism

When was Kumi Sugaï born?

The year of birth of the artist is: 1919