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6917 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel. 323 450 9409

Zenzaburo Kojima

Zenzaburo was born in Fukuoka City, Kyushu area in 1893. As a painter he was mostly

Biography

self-taught but later studied in Europe from 1925-1928. There he visited many museums
to learn and absorb the techniques and expressions of both classical and modernmasters. After returning to Japan, he sought to perfect a Japanese style of oil painting
which was coined “Kojima style". He summarized nature in bold forms and filled thecanvas with the life force that overflows from it. He would go on in his later years tosketch the scenery around his studio season by season and whenever he traveled far.
He completed paintings of a magnificent larger-scale, and did so with an exuberant
touch. He also put a great deal of effort into drawing portraits and flowers, bringing out
the life in his subjects and making them vibrant on the canvas. The more than 2,000
works he made during his lifetime attracts many fans to this day. His works are in thecollections of many Japanese museums and continue to please adoring audiences.
2023 will mark the 130th anniversary of his birth, and the Fukuoka Prefectural Museumof Art is planning a major exhibition to commemorate his legacy. The late critic Atsuo
Imaizumi emphasized at the end of his eulogy for Zenzaburo 60 years ago: "I believethat the day is close when your work will be truly and properly appreciated after yourdeath. I believe that your painting will leave a significant mark as one of the mostoutstanding artworks of the Showa period in the history of Japanese painting.” I believe
we are now witnessing this come true. Zenzaburo has become an artist who is bid
regularly in the 20th/21st century section of Christie's Auctions in Hong Kong, and he isseeing more and more popularity in Asia as well.

1893

Born in Fukuoka city Japan.

1912

Graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Shuyukan High School. Entered to Nagasaki

1913

Left the medical school during the term to go up to Tokyo aspiring to be a painter.

1914

Failed the entering examination for Tokyo School of Fine Arts, started studying painting

School of Medicine.

by himself. Left Tokyo for home because of illness.
1919

Went up to Tokyo again.

1922

Built the studio in Yoyogi Hatsudai Awarded for Nika Exhibition

1925

Travel to Europe. Stayed in Paris, Spain and Italy.

1928

Returned home. 24 pieces of during the stay in Europe was shown in Nika Exhibition as highlight.

1930

Became a member of Nika association, however left the organization in November.
Founded the Dokuritsu Bijutsu Kyokai (Independent Art Association).

1951

Road to the Japanese Alps was shown at the 20th memorial exhibition of Dokuritsu Bijutsu
Kyokai, then the work became a collection of National Museum of Modern Arts Japan.

1955

Dahlias and Spiraeas and Callas became a collection of National Museum of ModernArts Japan.

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Biography

1957
1958

6917 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel. 323 450 9409

Atami was shown at the International Exhibition.

Mountain Lake, Road to Japanese Alps, and Mimosa Arrangement were shown at theJapanese Modern Art Exhibition tour in Europe.

1959

Spiraea and Callas in Persian Vase was shown at The Exhibition of Japanese Modern

1961

Nishi-Izu was shown at the 29th Exhibition of Dokuritsu Bijutsu Kyokai.

Still life Painting held by National Museum of Modern Arts Japan.

1962

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2022
2007

Died at the age of 69 Many of exhibitions were held after his death.

This very green, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Zenzaburo Kojima - The Shine of Idyll, Fuchu Art Museum, TokyoJapan Art Dealers Association de Kuroda a Foujita: Peintres Japonais a Paris, Maisonde la culture du Japon à Paris , Paris

1998

The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo

1989

Nara Sogo Museum 1993 Exhibition of commemorating the 100th anniversary of thebirth at Fukuoka Art Museum and 3 other locations

1976

Fukuoka Prefecture Culture Center, Fukuoka

1978

Sapporo Sogo Museum, Sapporo1971Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Kitakyushu

1972

Takashimaya Tokyo, Tokyo

1964

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

1960

Solo Exhibition of new works, Nihonbashi Gallery, Tokyo

1953

Solo exhibition at Saegusa Gallery, Tokyo

Kobe Sogo Museum, Kobe

Selected Group Exhibitions

2020
2017

(Nothing but) Flowers, Karma Gallery, New YorkYŌGA: MODERN WESTERN PAINTINGS OF JAPAN at Museum of National Taipei
University of Education, Taipei
Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami

2007

Japan Art Dealers Association “de Kuroda a Foujita: Peintres Japonais a Paris” atMaison de la culture du Japon à Paris, Paris

1985

PARIS VU LES ARTIISTES JAPONAIS (Japanese Artists who drew Paris), CarnavaletMuseum, Paris

1958

Traveling Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Art Exhibition in Sydney, Melbourne,
and 9 other cities.

1952

The Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture atCarnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh

1951

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1st São Paulo Art Biennial, Sao Paulo720 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038

Permanent Installations,Long Museum China, ShanghaiMuseum and Public Collections

Busan Museum of Art Korea, Busan6917 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038

National Museum of Korea Korea, Seoul
Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Aichi
Menard Art Museum, Aichi
Seki Art Gallery, Ehime
Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka
Fukuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukuoka
Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Fukuoka
Kurume City Art Museum, Fukuoka
Nogata Tanio Art Museum, Fukuoka
Tomioka City Museum, Gunma
Hiroshima Museum of Art, Hiroshima
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, Hiroshima
Izumi Museum of Art, Hiroshima
Rantokaku Museum of Art, Hiroshima
Woodone Museum of Art, Hiroshima
Hakodate City Museum, Hokkaido
Otaru City Museum of Art, Hokkaido
Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo
Kasama Nichido Museum of Art, Ibaraki
The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, Ibaraki
Takamatsu Art Museum, Kagawa
Pola Museum of Art Kanagawa
The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama, Kanagawa
Yokosuka Museum of Art, Kanagawa
Jingu Choko-kan Museum Mie
Mie Prefectural Art Museum Mie
The Miyagi Museum of Art, Miyagi
Kisoji Art Museum, Nagano
Hori Art Museum, Nagoya
Nakano Museum of Art, Nara
The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Niigata
Nankai Collection, Oita
Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama
Iwami Art Museum, Shimane
Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka

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Tel. 323 450 9409

720 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038

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Permanent Installations,

The Tokushima Modern Art Museum, Tokushima

Museum and Public Collections

Artizon Museum, Tokyo

Tel. 323 450 9409

Fuchu Art Museum, Tokyo
Hachioji Yume Art Museum, Tokyo
Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo
Museum of Contenporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo
Ome City Museum Art,Tokyo
Sen-Oku Hakuko kan,Tokyo
Tamashin Art Museum,TokyoThe National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo,Tokyo
Tottori Prefectural Museum,Tottori
Yamagata Museum of Art,Yamagata
Tendo City Museum of Art,Yamagata
Fujiyama Museum,Yamanashi
The House of Representatives,Tokyo
Natural Parks Foundation,TokyoDazaifu Tenmangu,Fukuoka
Fukuoka City Government,Fukuoka
The Hokkaido Bank, Ltd,Hokkaido
The Nitori Culture Foundation,Hokkaido
Fukuoka Prefectural Shuyukan High School,Fukuoka

Publications

2022
2012

KOJIMA Zenzaburo Catalog Raisonné vol.2 will be published by Toshio Kojima

KOJIMA Zenzaburo Catalog Raisonné / KOJIMA Zenzaburo Selected Works publishedby Toshio Kojima

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