Personal Details

Yasuo Kuniyoshi (1889 – 1953) was a Japanese-American artist best known for his depictions of everyday life and ordinary people. Born in Okayama, Japan, Kuniyoshi studied traditional Japanese painting and woodblock printing before moving to the United States in 1906. After briefly attending the Los Angeles School of Art and Design, he moved to New York City in 1910.

Kuniyoshi quickly became well-known for his vibrant paintings, watercolors and prints. He often portrayed everyday life and ordinary people, such as his iconic painting of a man and woman walking along the beach. His work often focused on the idea of community, often portraying people from various racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Kuniyoshi was a prolific artist and his work was featured in numerous exhibitions throughout the United States. He was also an active member of the Japanese-American community, and during World War II, he worked to raise money for Japanese-American internment camps.

Kuniyoshi was a founding member of the New York-based Society of Independent Artists, and he was also a member of the American Artists Congress. His work was included in the landmark exhibition, "An American Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture since 1900" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1945.

Kuniyoshi's work has been widely exhibited and can be found in many important collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Brooklyn Museum.

Kuniyoshi's work continues to be admired and celebrated today. His vibrant and expressive paintings are a testament to his skill and unique vision, and his ability to capture the spirit of everyday life and the diverse people who inhabit it.

   Yasuo Kuniyoshi Paintings: