Sadamasa Motonaga

(Japanese, 1922–2011)

Sadamasa Motonaga was a Japanese abstract painter and a founding member of the avant-garde Gutai group. He was born on November 26, 1922 in Mie Prefecture, Japan and initially sought to be a cartoonist before turning his attention to painting, studying under the tutelage of Jiro Yoshihara. A pronounced sense of humor remained in his work throughout his lengthy career, creating paintings which are characterized by simple lines and a gentle palette of muted primary colors. Motonaga gradually expanded his practice to include printmaking, stage design, and children’s books, all while continuing his ongoing elliptical investigation into abstract painting. His awards include the Légion d’Honneur from the French government and the Japanese Purple Ribbon Award; he was the first abstract artist to receive the latter. He died on October 3, 2011 in Kobe, Japan, and his work has been the subject of many retrospectives, including at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe in 1998, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art in 2003, and the Mie Prefectural Museum of Art in 2009. The first Western retrospective of his work was held at the Dallas Museum of Art in 2014.

Sadamasa Motonaga Artworks

Sadamasa Motonaga (1,101 results)
Gold and Gold and Gold balls, 1992

Sadamasa Motonaga

Gold and Gold and Gold balls, 1992

Sale Date: April 13, 2024

Auction Closed

Two Red Notches

Sadamasa Motonaga

Two Red Notches

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

lithograph and collage / framed

Sadamasa Motonaga

lithograph and collage / framed

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Black Figures Are Floating

Sadamasa Motonaga

Black Figures Are Floating

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Two Works, 1988

Sadamasa Motonaga

Two Works, 1988

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Baou, 1971

Sadamasa Motonaga

Baou, 1971

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Small Colored Ball, 1976

Sadamasa Motonaga

Small Colored Ball, 1976

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Iron-2, 1971

Sadamasa Motonaga

Iron-2, 1971

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

The Small Circle Is Red, 1996

Sadamasa Motonaga

The Small Circle Is Red, 1996

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Untitled, 2001

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 2001

Sale Date: April 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Red, white, black | あかしろくろ, 1980

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red, white, black | あかしろくろ, 1980

Sale Date: March 15, 2024

Auction Closed

The shape is upside | かたちはうえのほう, 1992

Sadamasa Motonaga

The shape is upside | かたちはうえのほう, 1992

Sale Date: March 15, 2024

Auction Closed

Shapes on four corners (dish) | よすみにかたち(皿), 1994

Sadamasa Motonaga

Shapes on four corners (dish) | よすみにかたち(皿), 1994

Sale Date: March 15, 2024

Auction Closed

Work

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work "Foooll, 1970

Sale Date: March 9, 2024

Auction Closed

Einstein | あいんしゅたいん, 1986

Sadamasa Motonaga

Einstein | あいんしゅたいん, 1986

Sale Date: February 16, 2024

Auction Closed

Motonaga Sadamasa printings: flying part.II..., 1982

Sadamasa Motonaga

Motonaga Sadamasa printings: flying part.II..., 1982

Sale Date: February 15, 2024

Auction Closed

Black shape is floating | くろいかたちはういている, 1987

Sadamasa Motonaga

Black shape is floating | くろいかたちはういている, 1987

Sale Date: February 15, 2024

Auction Closed

ONE BACKREST(RED)

Sadamasa Motonaga

ONE BACKREST(RED)

Sale Date: February 23, 2024

Auction Closed

From Two White Shapes

Sadamasa Motonaga

From Two White Shapes

Sale Date: February 23, 2024

Auction Closed

Red shape is red square | あかいかたちはあかしかく, 1994

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red shape is red square | あかいかたちはあかしかく, 1994

Sale Date: February 3, 2024

Auction Closed

潺流中的图形, 1991

Sadamasa Motonaga

潺流中的图形, 1991

Sale Date: December 30, 2023

Auction Closed

五个螺旋和红色方格, 1980

Sadamasa Motonaga

五个螺旋和红色方格, 1980

Sale Date: December 30, 2023

Auction Closed

WORK, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

WORK, 1981

Sale Date: January 21, 2024

Auction Closed

NO, 1970

Sadamasa Motonaga

NO, 1970

Sale Date: January 21, 2024

Auction Closed