Shiro Akiyoshi (Japan) Residence : July 2018
Shiro Akiyoshi is an artist and graphic designer originally from Fukuoka, but living and working in Chicago for the past 20 years. His working process involves digital imaging, illustration, and montage, combining digital and traditional Japanese image making processes. Akiyoshi’s current project visually explores the relationship between ideas of war and protection by combining traditional Japanese Buddhist imagery with modern political figures and war imagery.
His work has been exhibited in Japan as well as the United States. He has shown at ARC Gallery, Wood Street gallery Daley Center and Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, as well as Muriel Geupin gallery in Brooklyn, NY.
Akiyoshi is an Associate Professor at DePaul University’s School of Design. He has an M.F.A. in Visual Communication from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has been a freelance designer since 1995, and has worked on various design projects for international corporations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, art galleries, and artists.
During his stay Akiyoshi would like to continue to work on this current project, exploring different techniques and ways of presentation such as gold leaf and different materials.
Nuclear Club #9, Inkjet on Paper, 70” x 44”, 2017
Nuclear Club Mandala #8, Inkjet on Paper, 70” x 44”, 2017