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)
Work (6 works)

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work (6 works)

Sale Date: July 30, 2011

Auction Closed

Black shapes are floating

Sadamasa Motonaga

Black shapes are floating

Sale Date: May 20, 2011

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Motonaga sadamasa (portfolio of 10), 1990

Sadamasa Motonaga

Motonaga sadamasa (portfolio of 10), 1990

Sale Date: May 20, 2011

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White light in one red, 1986

Sadamasa Motonaga

White light in one red, 1986

Sale Date: February 5, 2011

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Work, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1965

Sale Date: September 19, 2010

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Work, 1963

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1963

Sale Date: September 19, 2010

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Work, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1966

Sale Date: July 23, 2010

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Work, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1966

Sale Date: December 13, 2009

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Untitled

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled

Sale Date: December 13, 2009

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Untitled

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled

Sale Date: December 13, 2009

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Untitled

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled

Sale Date: September 11, 2009

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Two and two, 1982

Sadamasa Motonaga

Two and two, 1982

Sale Date: July 25, 2009

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Akai fuchi no shikaku Kara, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

Akai fuchi no shikaku Kara, 1981

Sale Date: July 24, 2009

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Work, 1979

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1979

Sale Date: July 24, 2009

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Untitled, 1968

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1968

Sale Date: April 5, 2009

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Aka to midori, 1961

Sadamasa Motonaga

Aka to midori, 1961

Sale Date: April 5, 2009

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Untitled, 1967

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1967

Sale Date: January 30, 2009

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Untitled, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1981

Sale Date: December 14, 2008

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Untitled, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1966

Sale Date: December 14, 2008

Auction Closed

Japanese novel laureates portfolio (set of 5), 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Japanese novel laureates portfolio (set of 5), 1983

Sale Date: December 5, 2008

Auction Closed

Work, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1965

Sale Date: November 25, 2008

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Untitled

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled

Sale Date: October 28, 2008

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Japanese Nobel Laureates Portfolio, 1983

Sadamasa Motonaga

Japanese Nobel Laureates Portfolio, 1983

Sale Date: September 5, 2008

Auction Closed

Work, 1967

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1967

Sale Date: September 5, 2008

Auction Closed