Presentation

A photographer based in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Paris. 

Born in 1948 in Kagawa, Japan. 

In his photographic work, Yasuo Kiyonaga interprets nature, villages, cities, people, and everything else in our lives in surrealistic ways. The subjects captured in his viewfinder are freed from their original contexts and given new shapes and significances.

Many of his works are associated with the abstract arts of cubism and surrealism. 

His output is not limited to photography. Using his unique skills, he beautifully combines seemingly incompatible concepts such as photographs and paintings, nature and the artificial, two-dimensional and three-dimensional, past and future, and dreams and reality, and sublimates them into art.

In 1966, strongly influenced by the two photographers Jean-Eugène Atget and Aaron Siskind, Yasuo Kiyonaga began studying photography. In 1970, after graduating from a college photography program, he started working for Recruit Co., Ltd. as a staff photographer, who mainly photograph the workers in Japan. In 1980, he left the organization and established his own company, SHC, which specializes in the planning and production of corporate communication content which was not well known at the time.

Yasuo Kiyonaga focused on the field of photojournalism for a long term and grew SHC into a company with 150 employees. Even today, this company remains an industry leader. In addition to its core business, it is also boldly taking on new challenges that are ahead of the times. The ideas, critical eye, and decision-making skills honed through these experiences have become the source of his creative activities.

In 1995, he resumed his career as an artist and opened a series of galleries in Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris, and online to display his works and those of other  photographers. He is the owner of the online photo galleries Kyoto Museum of Photography, as well as the physical galleries Kyoto Museum of Photography,  Gallery Artisan Tokyo and Gallery Japanesque Paris.

His works have been exhibited across Japan, including Spirit of Forest at Epson Imaging Gallery Epsite (2010), Hanoi × 6% at Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas Art Gallery (2020), and Identity and Two Landscapes at Kyoto Museum of Photography Gallery Japanesque (2020). 

Yasuo Kiyonaga has published several books, including Leslie (1999), Spirit of Forest (2007), Paris Sketch (2012), the Japanese Beautiful Landscapes series (from 2008), Japanese Tools (2015), and Ujo (Senses of Rain) (2016). 

As part of his lifework, he has photographed ancient capitals, rural villages in Japan and other countries and compiled his pictures into books.

He is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS).


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All artworks of Yasuo Kiyonaga

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Sculpture

Painting

Photography, Spirit of Forest 3246542, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 3246542

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 14 x 11.5 x 1.4 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 23572352, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 23572352

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 14 x 11.5 x 1.4 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 324654_2, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 324654_2

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 14 x 11.5 x 1.4 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 203900, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 203900

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 14 x 11.5 x 1.4 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 87150, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 87150

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 24565, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 24565

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 12630, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 12630

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 8412, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 8412

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 7100, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 7100

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 7090, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 7090

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 4642, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 4642

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 4629, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 4629

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 3990, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 3990

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2041, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2041

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2040, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2040

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2037, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2037

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2035, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2035

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2031, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2031

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2029, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2029

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2023, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2023

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2021, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2021

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 2005, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 2005

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 865, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 865

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest  718, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 718

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest  700, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 700

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 404, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 404

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 212, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 212

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 124, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 124

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 49, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 49

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 23, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 23

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Spirit of Forest 22, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 22

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Two Landscapes 50, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 50

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 49, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 49

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 48, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 48

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 47, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 47

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 46, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 46

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 45, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 45

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 43, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 43

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 42, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 42

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 41, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 41

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 40, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 40

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 13 x 19 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 38, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 38

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 37, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 37

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 36, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 36

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 34, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 34

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 35, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 35

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 33, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 33

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 32, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 32

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes 31, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 31

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$903

Photography, Fickle Memory 06, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Fickle Memory 06

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

$903

Sculpture, Existence11, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Existence11

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Sculpture - 17.7 x 6.1 x 1.2 inch

$903

Photography, Two Landscapes19, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes19

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Two Landscapes18, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes18

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Two Landscapes15, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes15

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Two Landscapes14, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes14

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Two Landscapes13, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes13

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Two Landscapes 11, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Two Landscapes 11

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$565

Photography, Spirit of Forest 1236, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Spirit of Forest 1236

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,807

Photography, Hanoi 1-10, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Hanoi 1-10

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 1 inch

$565

Photography, Hanoi 1-08, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Hanoi 1-08

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$565

Discover our selections of works by artists

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Need to know more?

Who is the artist?

A photographer based in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Paris. 

Born in 1948 in Kagawa, Japan. 

In his photographic work, Yasuo Kiyonaga interprets nature, villages, cities, people, and everything else in our lives in surrealistic ways. The subjects captured in his viewfinder are freed from their original contexts and given new shapes and significances.

Many of his works are associated with the abstract arts of cubism and surrealism. 

His output is not limited to photography. Using his unique skills, he beautifully combines seemingly incompatible concepts such as photographs and paintings, nature and the artificial, two-dimensional and three-dimensional, past and future, and dreams and reality, and sublimates them into art.

In 1966, strongly influenced by the two photographers Jean-Eugène Atget and Aaron Siskind, Yasuo Kiyonaga began studying photography. In 1970, after graduating from a college photography program, he started working for Recruit Co., Ltd. as a staff photographer, who mainly photograph the workers in Japan. In 1980, he left the organization and established his own company, SHC, which specializes in the planning and production of corporate communication content which was not well known at the time.

Yasuo Kiyonaga focused on the field of photojournalism for a long term and grew SHC into a company with 150 employees. Even today, this company remains an industry leader. In addition to its core business, it is also boldly taking on new challenges that are ahead of the times. The ideas, critical eye, and decision-making skills honed through these experiences have become the source of his creative activities.

In 1995, he resumed his career as an artist and opened a series of galleries in Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris, and online to display his works and those of other  photographers. He is the owner of the online photo galleries Kyoto Museum of Photography, as well as the physical galleries Kyoto Museum of Photography,  Gallery Artisan Tokyo and Gallery Japanesque Paris.

His works have been exhibited across Japan, including Spirit of Forest at Epson Imaging Gallery Epsite (2010), Hanoi × 6% at Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas Art Gallery (2020), and Identity and Two Landscapes at Kyoto Museum of Photography Gallery Japanesque (2020). 

Yasuo Kiyonaga has published several books, including Leslie (1999), Spirit of Forest (2007), Paris Sketch (2012), the Japanese Beautiful Landscapes series (from 2008), Japanese Tools (2015), and Ujo (Senses of Rain) (2016). 

As part of his lifework, he has photographed ancient capitals, rural villages in Japan and other countries and compiled his pictures into books.

He is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS).

What are their 3 main works?

What is Yasuo Kiyonaga’s artistic movement?

The artistic movements of the artists are: Abstract Japanese Art, On Film

When was Yasuo Kiyonaga born?

The year of birth of the artist is: 1948