As an isolated country for many centuries, Japanese artists have stayed true to their traditional styles and techniques over the years. Their unique art styles, including calligraphy, ikebana (flower arranging), ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and more, have even inspired many artists and crafters in western countries. With such unique tradition and style, it’s no surprise that Japan is home to many world-renowned artists. Today, we will outline the top 10 famous Japanese artists and their works to inspire your next masterpiece!
Overview:
- Katsushika Hokusai
- Yayoi Kusama
- Chiho Aoshima
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Yokoyama Taikan
- Takashi Murakami
- Yoshitomo Nara
- Utagawa Kuniyoshi
- Osamu Tezuka
- Hiroshi Yoshia
10 Famous Japanese Artists
1. Katsushika Hokusai
One of the household names in Japanese art, Katsushika Hokusai is famous for his ukiyo-e style artworks, using wood blocks and artist paint. Born during the Edo period, Hokusai created some of the most iconic artworks, including ‘Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji’, ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’, and ‘WaterWheel at Onden’. His artwork went on to inspire many famous artists, such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
2. Yayoi Kusama
Yayoi Kusama, also known as ‘the princess of polka dots’ is a famous contemporary Japanese artist who specialises in sculptures, installation, painting, performance and fashion. Trained at the Kyoto city University of Arts, she learnt the traditional Japanese style named Nihonga, and soon became inspired by American abstract impressionism. Since then, she has produced well-known artworks and displays, including the ‘Infinity Mirror Room’, as well as her pumpkin and dot series.
3. Chiho Aoshima
Known as one of the most successful and influential contemporary artists in Japan today, Chiho Aoshima has been a producer of modern and pop style art since the 1990’s. Aoshima uses a range of different media, including digital prints, animation, painting, sculptures, ceramics and murals. Her art is known to feature fantastical characters and items, and is heavily influenced by modern day manga and anime.
4. Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki is a successful filmmaker, manga artist and director in Japan. He is known internationally as the creator of Studio Ghibli, and his films Spirited Away (2001) and Princess Mononoke (1997). Miyazaki's distinct style features soft and simplified backgrounds with expressive anime-style characters, using media like coloured pencils, gouache paint, acrylic markers and more. He began studying political science and economics at Gakushuin University to become a manga author. However, he went on to work at Toei Animation, where he began creating his anime-style artworks and eventually films.
5. Yokoyama Taikan
Yokoyama Taikan is a historical Japanese artist who contributed to the traditional Japanese style of painting, specifically the Nihonga technique. He began studying Japanese painting at the Tokyo Art School and eventually moved on to study at the Japan Fine Art Academy. Here, Taikan developed a new style of painting where he eliminated lines and concentrated on colour combinations. He painted many iconic landscapes like views of Mount Fuji using traditional painting methods mixed with European techniques, as he often transferred contours into blurred outlines.
6. Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami is a famous Japanese artist known for his ‘superflat’ aesthetic, colourful and two-dimension art style that is influenced by pop culture and anime. His artworks have achieved worldwide success through their unique style that focuses on traditional Japanese printmaking techniques and Japanese manga. They often feature smiling flowers, Mickey Mouse inspired characters and bears. His technique ranges across prints, paintings, sculptures and more! Murakami’s artworks are featured in some of the most notable museums and galleries, including Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
7. Yoshitomo Nara
Yoshitomo Nara is a Japanese artist well-known for his artworks featuring children and animals. In 1987, Nara completed his degree at the Aichi University of Arts and soon after began studying at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in Germany. With a range of cultural influences, Nara began exploring themes of rebellion, spirituality and isolation through his printmaking, painting, sculptures, ceramics and installations. His most notable works include ‘The Girl with the Knife in Her Hand’, ‘Knife Behind Back’, and ‘Star Island’. He uses a combination of media, including acrylic paint, printmaking on art paper, artist ink, graphite pencils, coloured pencils and more.
8. Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Utagawa Kuniyoshi is a famous Japanese artist known for ukiyo-e woodblock printing in the late Edo period. He studied at the Utagawa school and began creating many iconic paintings that included landscapes, Kabuki actors, cats, mythical creatures, courtesans and more. Some of his most notable artworks include ‘Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre’, ‘The Ghost of Asakura Togo’, and ‘Takiguchi Watanabe’.
9. Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka was a famous Japanese manga artist, animator and cartoonist, known as the ‘Father of Manga’ and the ‘Walt Disney of Japan’. Born in 1928, Tezuka was exposed to manga and animation as a child, which developed his love for manga-style artworks and animation. He began the ‘manga revolution’ in Japan with his notable ‘New Treasure Island’ in 1947. He later went on to create manga series, including Astro Boy, Princess Knight, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion, Buddha and more! His preferable choice of media included markers and artist ink.
10. Hiroshi Yoshia
Born in 1876, Hiroshi Yoshia was a famous Japanese painter and printmaker, who was considered one of the pioneers in the renewal of Japanese style printmaking. He combined Japanese painting styles with Western techniques and went on to win several exhibition awards around the world for his art. In his early career, Yoshida focused on watercolour and oil paintings, however he eventually moved onto woodblock printmaking. His paintings were inspired by calm moments in nature to invite meditation and a peaceful mood.
Create Japanese-inspired art with supplies from Art to Art
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Famous Japanese artists FAQs
Who is Japan’s most famous artist?
Whilst it’s hard to narrow all the well-known Japanese artists down to one, Takashi Murakami is one of the most popular artists today. His works are highly-unique, focusing on a cartoon-pop aesthetic, which is why they’re sold for high prices in auctions worldwide.
What is the best known and most popular style of Japanese art?
Calligraphy, also known as Shodo, is the most popular Japanese art style. This is an ancient artistic writing that was originally based on Chinese characters, and is now based on Hiragana and Katakana characters.
Who was the best ancient Japanese artist?
Katsushika Hokusai was the most well-known artist during ancient times in Japan, specifically during the Edo period. He specialised in ukiyo-e and printmaking art styles and is famous for his iconic painting ‘The Great Wave’.
