It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of the artist Tadaaki Kuwayama.
Kuwayama’s achievement and influence in the American Minimalist movement was vast, quickly gaining notoriety after his move to the United States alongside wife and fellow artist, Rakuko Naito, in 1958. Establishing himself as an active member of the avant-garde in New York, Kuwayama was befriended by Kenzо̄ Okada, Sam Francis, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Frank Stella. His first solo show was held at Green Gallery in 1961, run by art dealer Richard Bellamy. Kuwayama’s striking work was included in many landmark exhibitions, such as Vormen van de Kleur (Forms of Color), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Systemic Painting, the emblematic exhibition organized by art critic Lawrence Alloway at the Guggenheim, both in 1966. He has been the subject of countless solo and group exhibitions around the world, and his work is included in the collections of institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Foundation for Constructivist, Concrete and Conceptual Art in Zürich, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.
His contributions to painting at large cannot be understated, as he investigated space, color, and surface in new and enlightening ways. Kuwayama did not simply create paintings, but works that command presence, contemplation, and awe. In his words, “I wanted to make pure art without history.”
To say he will be missed does not fully capture the depth of this loss to the art world and to those who were lucky to know and love him. Rather than offer much explanation, he allowed the viewer an all-encompassing spatial and visual experience. We are extending our heartfelt condolences to his beautiful family, friends, wife and life partner, Rakuko, at this time.
Kuwayama’s achievement and influence in the American Minimalist movement was vast, quickly gaining notoriety after his move to the United States alongside wife and fellow artist, Rakuko Naito, in 1958. Establishing himself as an active member of the avant-garde in New York, Kuwayama was befriended by Kenzо̄ Okada, Sam Francis, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Frank Stella. His first solo show was held at Green Gallery in 1961, run by art dealer Richard Bellamy. Kuwayama’s striking work was included in many landmark exhibitions, such as Vormen van de Kleur (Forms of Color), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Systemic Painting, the emblematic exhibition organized by art critic Lawrence Alloway at the Guggenheim, both in 1966. He has been the subject of countless solo and group exhibitions around the world, and his work is included in the collections of institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Foundation for Constructivist, Concrete and Conceptual Art in Zürich, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.
His contributions to painting at large cannot be understated, as he investigated space, color, and surface in new and enlightening ways. Kuwayama did not simply create paintings, but works that command presence, contemplation, and awe. In his words, “I wanted to make pure art without history.”
To say he will be missed does not fully capture the depth of this loss to the art world and to those who were lucky to know and love him. Rather than offer much explanation, he allowed the viewer an all-encompassing spatial and visual experience. We are extending our heartfelt condolences to his beautiful family, friends, wife and life partner, Rakuko, at this time.
August 21, 2023
