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)
Uenigoshoku (2 works)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Uenigoshoku (2 works)

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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Akaishikakuwamidoritomidori (2 works)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Akaishikakuwamidoritomidori (2 works)

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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Shiroikatachiniakakatachi (2 works)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Shiroikatachiniakakatachi (2 works)

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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Daennomawarinokatachitachi

Sadamasa Motonaga

Daennomawarinokatachitachi

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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Shikakunonakaniakaiiro

Sadamasa Motonaga

Shikakunonakaniakaiiro

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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Nagarekatachitoitsutsunokatachi

Sadamasa Motonaga

Nagarekatachitoitsutsunokatachi

Sale Date: November 21, 2015

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RED EDGE FROM RECTANGLE, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

RED EDGE FROM RECTANGLE, 1981

Sale Date: December 1, 2015

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TRELLIS TRELLIS, 1982

Sadamasa Motonaga

TRELLIS TRELLIS, 1982

Sale Date: December 1, 2015

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WORK, 1962

Sadamasa Motonaga

WORK, 1962

Sale Date: December 1, 2015

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Senza titolo, 1967

Sadamasa Motonaga

Senza titolo, 1967

Sale Date: December 5, 2015

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Work, 1961

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1961

Sale Date: November 10, 2015

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Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Various Prints(a set of 5), 1984

Sadamasa Motonaga

Various Prints(a set of 5), 1984

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Various Prints(a set of 5)

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Shape of fourteen line, 1978

Sadamasa Motonaga

Shape of fourteen line, 1978

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Work, 1976

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1976

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Work, 1979

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1979

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Work, 1973

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1973

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Work, 1984

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1984

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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At a village flowers smiling (image and..., 1987

Bakusan Sakaki and Sadamasa Motonaga

At a village flowers smiling (image and..., 1987

Sale Date: November 7, 2015

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Irodama

Sadamasa Motonaga

Irodama

Sale Date: October 14, 2015

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QQ

Sadamasa Motonaga

QQ

Sale Date: October 14, 2015

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Work, 1988

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1988

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed