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)
Floating two red ovals, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Floating two red ovals, 1983

Sale Date: July 16, 2016

Auction Closed

Red net square, 1996

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red net square, 1996

Sale Date: July 16, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1996

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1996

Sale Date: July 16, 2016

Auction Closed

Work, 1979

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1979

Sale Date: July 16, 2016

Auction Closed

One Green, 1984

Sadamasa Motonaga

One Green, 1984

Sale Date: June 11, 2016

Auction Closed

Three and One, 1999

Sadamasa Motonaga

Three and One, 1999

Sale Date: June 11, 2016

Auction Closed

摇摆, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

摇摆, 1983

Sale Date: June 4, 2016

Auction Closed

左右是红色的方圆, 1992

Sadamasa Motonaga

左右是红色的方圆, 1992

Sale Date: May 30, 2016

Auction Closed

英国国旗也在, 1984

Sadamasa Motonaga

英国国旗也在, 1984

Sale Date: May 30, 2016

Auction Closed

Work, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1965

Sale Date: June 11, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1996

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1996

Sale Date: May 29, 2016

Auction Closed

Sakaku Kara Sanbon, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

Sakaku Kara Sanbon, 1981

Sale Date: May 29, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1966

Sale Date: May 29, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1963

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1963

Sale Date: May 29, 2016

Auction Closed

Work, 1975

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1975

Sale Date: May 28, 2016

Auction Closed

GREEN SHAPE, 1994

Sadamasa Motonaga

GREEN SHAPE, 1994

Sale Date: May 28, 2016

Auction Closed

Work, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1966

Sale Date: May 28, 2016

Auction Closed

Work 作品, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work 作品, 1966

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Nijimi No Ueni (Above The Blooming) 暈染上面, 2008

Sadamasa Motonaga

Nijimi No Ueni (Above The Blooming) 暈染上面, 2008

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled 無題, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled 無題, 1981

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Work 作品, 1971

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work 作品, 1971

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled 無題, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled 無題, 1965

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled 無題, 1982

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled 無題, 1982

Sale Date: May 22, 2016

Auction Closed

THREE RED SEMICIRCLES, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

THREE RED SEMICIRCLES, 1983

Sale Date: May 31, 2016

Auction Closed