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)
Forms around an oval, 1993

Sadamasa Motonaga

Forms around an oval, 1993

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Short orange in the near center, 1984

Sadamasa Motonaga

Short orange in the near center, 1984

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Set of 6 prints, 2011

Sadamasa Motonaga

Set of 6 prints, 2011

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Set of 6 prints, 1993

Sadamasa Motonaga

Set of 6 prints, 1993

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Set of 10 prints, 1991

Sadamasa Motonaga

Set of 10 prints, 1991

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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The complete set of 10 works, 1990

Sadamasa Motonaga

The complete set of 10 works, 1990

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Red color in a square, 1993

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red color in a square, 1993

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Black shape is floating, 1987

Sadamasa Motonaga

Black shape is floating, 1987

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Fukui, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Fukui, 1983

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Sato, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Sato, 1983

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Red and Long Ellipse, 1988

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red and Long Ellipse, 1988

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Kawabata, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Kawabata, 1983

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Yukawa, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Yukawa, 1983

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Tomonaga, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Tomonaga, 1983

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Green Shape, white light is downward, 1990

Sadamasa Motonaga

Green Shape, white light is downward, 1990

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Red and Purple facing each other, 1989

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red and Purple facing each other, 1989

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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White Light in the Red, 1986

Sadamasa Motonaga

White Light in the Red, 1986

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

From a Purple Shape, 1990

Sadamasa Motonaga

From a Purple Shape, 1990

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Work, 1982

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1982

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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Horizontal ellipse, White Light is downward, 1987

Sadamasa Motonaga

Horizontal ellipse, White Light is downward, 1987

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Work, 1972

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1972

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

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One red of white light, 1986

Sadamasa Motonaga

One red of white light, 1986

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Two red and green colors, 1989

Sadamasa Motonaga

Two red and green colors, 1989

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed

Three Shapes, 1989

Sadamasa Motonaga

Three Shapes, 1989

Sale Date: October 24, 2015

Auction Closed