TAKAGI Senju

TAKAGI Senju (1948-) Japanese-style painter. Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. Completed the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the Open University of Japan. Grew up closely watching her grandfather paint pictures of beautiful women. Studied under Miyashita Hisanori, who descended from the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Toyohara, and began to paint pictures of beautiful women in earnest. First learned design, and then studied artistic anatomy at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and Western-style and Japanese-style painting at Joshibi Junior College of Art and Design and Musashino Art University. Believes that Japan’s traditions are especially important in the age of globalization, and creates mainly images of Kyoto geisha who protect traditional culture. The theme of works is the question of how to add a touch of modernism to inherited Japanese-style paintings. In 2000, participated in creation of a Japan Red Cross's comfort mural. Has exhibited in Japan, China, South Korea, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Spain, and Canada, and received awards such as special selection, an England development award, an award of excellence, a China-Japan art and culture exchange selection award, a Japan Red Cross society education art award, and a Red Ribbon art grand prize. Included in collection in the Geneva Consulate General. Has written discourses “Kiyokata no sakuhin (usuyuki) no kosatsu” and “Kiyokata ni okeru seisaku no hatten.” Held personal exhibitions at Ginza Art Gallery in 2001 and Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki in 2011. Currently a member of Japan Artists Association, permanent member of the Taylor Foundation, and full member of Meiji Bijutsu Gakkai.