Koji Kinutani

Order of Culture
Koji Kinutani
絹谷 幸二
Portrait of Kinutani
Kinutani in 2021
Born(1943-01-24)January 24, 1943
Nara City, Japan
DiedAugust 1, 2025(2025-08-01) (aged 82)
Tokyo, Japan
EducationTokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Fine Arts
Known forYōga
Notable work"Portrait of Mr. Anselmo" (1973)
"Portrait of Daria Ganassini" (1975)
"Angela and the Blue Sky II" (1976)
AwardsYasui Prize (1974)
Mainichi Art Award (1989)
Japan Art Academy Prize (2001)
Websitekinutani.jp

Koji Kinutani (Japanese: 絹谷 幸二, January 24, 1943 – August 1, 2025) was a Japanese Yōga painter. He was a recipient of the Order of Culture and a member of the Japan Art Academy. He served as a professor at Osaka University of Arts and as an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. He was also recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit.

Kinutani had previously held positions such as professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and director of the Japan Artists Association.

Life and career

Early life

Kinutani was born in Motoyoshicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. He graduated from Nara Prefectural Nara High School and later from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in oil painting (1966, under Ryohei Koiso). He won the Ohashi Prize for his graduation work.

Career

Kinutani began learning oil painting at the age of six. After graduating from university, he studied in Italy in 1971, where he researched classical fresco painting techniques in Venice. In 1974, he received the Yasui Prize for "Portrait of Mr. Anselmo." Following further study in Mexico, he became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1993, contributing to the education of future artists. He also appeared on NHK's "Sunday Art Museum" and conducted public lectures on fresco techniques to promote understanding of classical Western painting. His works are showcased in solo exhibitions at major department stores across Japan.

In 2000, he became a member of the Japan Art Academy. In 2008, he established the Koji Kinutani Prize, recognizing young artists under 35, with sponsorship from the Mainichi Shimbun. In 2010, he was named an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Death

On August 1, 2025, Kinutani died in Tokyo due to malignant lymphoma. He was 82.

Career milestones

Awards

Honors

Major works

Public art and murals

Kinutani has created numerous murals and public artworks across Japan, including "VIVA YOKOHAMA" at Yokohama Station and "The Sun of Hope" at the Consulate-General of Japan in New York.

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Revitalization of Motoyoshicho: Bringing Back the Nighttime Vigor". Nara Nichi Nichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2014-04-04.
  2. ↑ 絹谷幸二さん死去、82歳 洋画家、文化勲章受章 (in Japanese)
  3. ↑ "Order of Culture Awarded to Seven Individuals, Including Nobel Laureates Amano and Nakamura". Asahi Shimbun. 2014-10-24. Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  4. ↑ 'Official Gazette' No. 43, July 4, 2019
  5. ↑ "Order of Culture Awarded to Nine Individuals, Including Shigeo Nagashima and Syukuro Manabe". NHK News. 2021-10-26. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021.