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)
Howa Howa, 1978

Sadamasa Motonaga

Howa Howa, 1978

SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd.

Est. 4,000,000–7,000,000 JPY

Untitled, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1965

SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd.

Est. 2,000,000–3,000,000 JPY

Seven in yellow, 1988

Sadamasa Motonaga

Seven in yellow, 1988

SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd.

Est. 400,000–700,000 JPY

The five colors overlap, 1985

Sadamasa Motonaga

The five colors overlap, 1985

SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd.

Est. 300,000–500,000 JPY

Work, 1981

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1981

ICHI ART CO., LTD.

Est. 700,000–1,200,000 JPY

ONE BACKREST (WHITE)

Sadamasa Motonaga

ONE BACKREST (WHITE)

New Art Est-Ouest Auctions

Est. 100,000–150,000 JPY

Untitled, 1972

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1972

Mallet Japan

Est. 500,000–600,000 JPY

Red Oval, 1995

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red Oval, 1995

Mallet Japan

Est. 400,000–500,000 JPY

Red Point is Eleven, 1985

Sadamasa Motonaga

Red Point is Eleven, 1985

Mallet Japan

Est. 800,000–1,300,000 JPY

Untitled, 1965

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1965

Mallet Japan

Est. 1,500,000–2,500,000 JPY

Untitled, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1966

Heather James Fine Art

215,000 USD

Untitled, 1969

Sadamasa Motonaga

Untitled, 1969

Heather James Fine Art

125,000 USD

Line, 1979

Sadamasa Motonaga

Line, 1979

Fergus McCaffrey

Sold

Sakuhin 66-2, 1966

Sadamasa Motonaga

Sakuhin 66-2, 1966

Fergus McCaffrey

Price on Request

Work, 1967

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work, 1967

Fergus McCaffrey

Price on Request

1. From the Green Triangle/2. Three..., 1982–1987

Sadamasa Motonaga

1. From the Green Triangle/2. Three..., 1982–1987

Sale Date: April 13, 2024

Auction Closed

Two red notches | ふたつのあかいぎざぎざ, 1987

Sadamasa Motonaga

Two red notches | ふたつのあかいぎざぎざ, 1987

Sale Date: April 12, 2024

Auction Closed

Work - Two Colours 作品 - 兩色, 1969

Sadamasa Motonaga

Work - Two Colours 作品 - 兩色, 1969

Sale Date: April 6, 2024

Auction Closed

Perfect Shape and Shape, 1989

Sadamasa Motonaga

Perfect Shape and Shape, 1989

Sale Date: April 2, 2024

Auction Closed