Artists Represented - Toru Sugita

I feel moved when sunlight touches an object in the afternoon and visualize the space around me. I walk out and wander around to observe shapes of shadows. I realize that shadows make spaces visible. I find myself in the spaces enjoying architecture delineated by sunlight. Buildings and their shadows are layered and blended together, creating momentary beauty of colors and shapes. These scenes are temporary, and will change or disappear in the next moment. They are very precious because their occurrence is the unique combination of a place, sunlight, and the precise moment I happen upon the scene like an eclipse.

I spontaneously use photography to capture visual information. What results are like quick sketches. The camera documents specific moments of ever changing shapes and spaces. Although capturing the moment is quick, when I create works of art, I choose time-consuming autographical method in transferring information from the photograph. During the process of depicting information, I become involved deeply and identify myself as a part of the space. I note that nothing is permanent and everything is constantly changing: light, cityscape, and myself.

I choose printmaking as my primary medium. The printmaking process is reminiscent of the relationship between light and shadow. Etching and aquatint help me express my interest in light and shadow by using their rich tones of black and white. The graphic nature of black and white leads me to lines and shapes found in architectural elements. Once I eliminated color from my work, I found myself drawn to the exploration of space itself. My work became about the physicality of three dimensional space.

In old architectural sites, the transient, ephemeral quality of light and shadow becomes palpable. I began to work with large-scale three-dimensional drawings by stretching ropes from one point to another in a selected outdoor space during afternoon light; in which the ropes/lines become a temporary extension of the ambient architecture. Once completed, I videotape the drawing/installation. I find myself exploring the space that I have created with my 3-D structures interacting with the momentary phase of the architecture. I document the way I perceive and understand the space while merging with it in the transient afternoon light.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2017	"Toru Sugita: Impressions", Davidson Galleries, Seattle, Washington
2016	"Exhibicion Individual y Conversacion con Toru Sugita", Espacio Centro, Oaxaca, Mexico
2015	"Toru Sugita 1/4 Century Exhibition", Gallery Hillgate, Kyoto, Japan
2014	"Toru Sugita Prints", Gallery 212, Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma, California
2013	"Bay Area Lines and Shadows," San Francisco State Alumuni Hall Gallery, San Francisco, California
2012	"Land and City Paintings and Prints by Toru Sugita," La Pena Cultural Center, Berkeley, California
	"Bay Area Shapes - Etchings by Toru Sugita", Caffe Museo, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California
2011	"A Continuous-Scape", The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, Colorado
2010	"Toru Sugita: Chronology and New Vision", Diablo Vallery College Art Gallery, Pleasant Hill, California
2008	"The Work of Toru Sugita", Hang Ups Fine Art, Grand Junction, Colorado
2007	"Toru Sugita: New Prints and Paintings", Newmark Gallery, San Francisco, California
2006	"Ephemera", Johnson's Art Gallery, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado
2002	"Toru Sugita Paintings and Prints", Gallery img, Santa Clara, California
2000	"Intersecting Angles", Merced College Art Gallery, Merced, California
1999	"At Shadows Edge" Studio 1109, Sacramento, California
1997	"A Shape 1992-1996", AlA East Bay, Oakland, California
1990	"The Other View" (Installation), Gallery Suzuki, Kyoto, Japan
1988	"A Fine Day Goes Down" (Mixed Media), Gallery Iteza, Kyoto, Japan
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019	13th Annual California Centered: Printmaking Exhibition, Merced Multicultural Art Center, Merced, California
	"Print It! - California Society of Printmakers", Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, California
	"Urban Triology - Peter Baczek", Ali Targownik, Toru Sugita, Manna Gallery, Oakland, California
	"Immigration Emergency", Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Oakland, California
	"Love - Graphic Arts Workshop Exhibit", Dependable Letterpress, San Francisco, California
2018	"Retrospective 11", Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Recent Art Acquisitions", Ren Brown Collection, Bodega Bay, California
	California Society of Printmakers Artist in Residence, Kala Project Space, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California
	"The Mu Scroll Exhibition", Phoebe A Hearst Museum of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley California
	"Wood, Aluminum, Copper - Toru Sugita, Jenny Robinson, & Dave Avery", Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Air, Water, Earth", Los Angeles Printmaking Society Juried, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, California
	International Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition/Forum, CARRE, Hollerich, Luxembourg
	"Then & Now, Negative Space Gallery", Dependable Letterpress, San Francisco, California
2017	"Ca.Inked", Jen Tough Gallery, Vallejo, California
	"City Hues", Telegraph Hill Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"City Streets - Urban Views of Bay Area", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Pressing On - Contemporary Printmaking Juried Exhibition", Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California
	"Bridges - DVC Printmaking Currents", Diablo Valley College Library, Pleasant Hill, California
	"Graphically Observed", CSP Juried Exhibition, Isabelle Percy West Gallery California College of Arts, Oakland, California
	"Print by South West", South Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
	"A Conversation with our Archives", Graphic Arts Workshop Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Dessert Triangle Postre Prints", Purple Gallery, El Paso, Texas
	11^th Turner National Print Exhibition, Janet Turner Print Museum, CSU Chico, Chico, California
2016	"San Francisco/Yokohama Exchange", Graphic Arts Workshop Gallery, SF & Launch Pad Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
	"Four Squared 2016", Arc Gallery and Studios, San Francisco, California
	"City Streets", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"We're Going Nowhere Fast - Selected Works from The Print Exchange", Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn, New York
	"PRINTS: California Society of Printmakers", Isabelle Percy West Gallery, California College of Arts, Oakland, California
2015	"Brownsville Prints", Brownsville Rusteberg Art Gallery, University of Texas, Brownsville, Texas
	"Printers Series Vol. 1", CSP Art Residency Show Case, Gruenwald Press, San Francisco, California
	"Prints: CA, LA, and Beyond Part II", Gray Loft Gallery, Oakland, California
2014	"Small Matters of Great Importance", Edward Hopper House Art Center, Nyack, New York
	The 9^th Kochi International Triennial Exhibition of Prints, Ino-cho Paper Museum, Kochi, Japan
	"City Streets - Urban Views of the Bay Area", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Redefining the Multiple", Gary Francis Fine Art, Alameda, California
	Nexus-Portfolio by Bay Area Etchers, A SGC International SF Conference Exhibition, San Francisco State University, California
	"California Etchers Currents", Diablo Valley College Art Gallery, Pleasant Hill, California
	"Re/Appropriate: CSP Juried Exhibition", Market Street Gallery, San Francisco, California
2013	"The Art of Giving Art", Gary & Francis Fine Art, Alameda, California
	"Winterlude", Art Beatus Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
	"Black & White", Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, California
	"City Streets", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, California
	Carol Lefkowitz, Toru Sugita, Juan Miguel Santiago, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California
2012	"DVC Printmaking Current", Diablo Valley College Library, Pleasant Hill, California
	"Ink and Clay 38", California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
	"Flock Work" inspired by birds, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, California
	Gallery Group Artists Show, Art Beatus Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
	"Why Paint Landscape?", ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Off the Press", Haldan Gallery, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, California
2011	"Accession: Recent Acquisitions from the Art in Public Places Collection", Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
	"A Stone's Throw" Exchange Exhibition, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York, New York
	"Light/Dark", California Society of Printmakers Juried Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, California
2010	"2010 Pacific States Biennial National Print Exhibition", University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii
	"Skin Deep II", The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, Colorado
2009	"On View: New Work from Kala", Kala Institute, Berkeley, California
	"Six Decades of Printmaking", ArtZone 461, San Francisco, California
	20^th National Biennial of Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, California
	"PRINTED: A Juried Exhibition", Cabrillo Gallery, Cabrillo College, Aptos, California
2008	The 7^th Kochi International Triennial Exhibition of Prints, Ino-cho Paper Museum, Kochi, Japan
	Janet Turner 7^th National Competition, Janet Turner Print Museum, California State University, Chico, California
2007	Los Angeles Printmaking Society 19^th National Exhibition, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, California
	20^th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin
2006	"Pacific Prints 2006", Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California
	"Impressions 2006", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, California
2005	Printmakers Invitational 2005, Claudia Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, California
	18^th National Biennial of Los Angeles Printmaking Society, the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, California
	Berkeley Art Center 22^nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, California
2004	"Issho/Together", Japanese American/Japanese National Artists in America, Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, California
	"Fields of View: Natural & Urban Landscapes", Dorothy Herger Gallery, Solano Community College, Fairfield, California
	"...'tis the season!", Art Beatus Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
	"Printmaking & Process: An Overview of Contemporary Practice", Arts Benicia Center, Benicia, California
2003	Berkeley Art Center 20^th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, California
	2^nd Graphic Annual of Contemporary Printmaking, Museo de los Ninos, San Jose, Costa Rica
	LAPS Juried Membership Exhibition, Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, California
2002	"Then & Now", Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA), Oakland, California
	"Breakages: USF 3^rd Annual Sculpture Show", University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
	"Dibuo Dibujado", 1^st International Annual of Drawing, Museo del Nino, San Jose, Costa Rica
	Janet Turner 4^th National Print Competition, California State University, Chico, California
	"Flashing", Art Beatus Gallery ,Vancouver, Canada
2001	"California Small Works", Sonoma Museum of Visual Art, Santa Rosa, California
	Berkley Art Center 18th Annual Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, California
2000	Autour de Frans Measerel, Le Lode Fine Arts Museum, Le Lode, Switzerland
	Scratch & Burn-Intagio Prints by Toru Sugita and Xavier Viramontes, Collectors Gallery, Oakland, California
	Oeuvres graphiqques cl'artistes contemporaries' ayant trvaille au celebre Centre Frans Masereel, Gordes, France
	"Meetings", Suolahti Old Station Hall, Suolahti, Finland
	Laps 2000, Brand Library Art Gallery, California
	Pacific Prints 2000, Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, California
1999	California Prints From Wood, Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, California
	Selections from Open Studio'98, San Francisco, California
	Faultines/Watermarks, The Atrium, San Francisco, CN Amsterdam, Holland Kala At 25, University of Pacific, Stockton, California
	15^th National Bieennial of Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Lab and Gallery, California
1998	California Prints From Wood, Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, California
	Pro Arts 1998 Juried Annual Show, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, California
	"Geometric/Organic" Crucible Steel Gallery, San Francisco, California
	Etchings, Etcetre, Carol A Dab Art Consultants, Los Altos, California
	A Tradition Continued: Reliief Prints, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo, California
1997	Collectors Gallery Salutes KALA, Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, California
	California Prints From Wood, Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, California
	"Two Views" Gallery/Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, Japan
1996	California Prints From Wood, Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, California
	"Motion in Stillness", Gallery On the Rim, San Francisco, California
	"Masters of the Media", Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, California
	"Paper Selected Works From the Collection" Kissmet Gallery, California
	'95 Kala Institute Fellowship Exhibition, California
	Kyoto University of Education 1 201h Anniversary Art Show, Kyoto, Japan
	The 3^rd kochi International Triennial Exhibition of Prints, Kochi, Japan
1995	"Japan Mukashi To ma", Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Costa Rica
Fellowships, Residencies and Grants
2018	45^th Faculty Lecturer Award, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, California
2016	Art Residency at Taller Grafica Libre, Zaachila, Mexico
	Art Residency at Ucross Foundation, Ucross, Wyoming
2015	The Printers Series: CSP Artist in Residence at The W.O.R.K.S, Vallejo, California
2013	Art Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
	Diablo Valley College Professional Development Fund for attending SGCI Milwaukee Conference
2008	Mesa State College Faculty Professional Development Grant for Multi-media Art Installation and Dance "Kagerou"
	Mesa State College Sterategic Planing Grant for acquiring aditional litho press for Art Department
	Mesa State College Faculty Professional Development Grant for Art Residecy at East Side Editions, San Francisco, California
2004	Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Grant
1999	Centrum voor Grafiek Frans Masereel, Kasterlee, Belgium
1995	Kala Art Institute Fellowship Artist, Berkeley, California
1991	Murals of "Torres del Paine" Puerto Natales, Chile
Awards
2014	Top Ten SF Open Studios Artists selected by Valerie Leavy, SF Open Studios Exhibition, SOMArts, San Francisco, California
2011	Purchase Award, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
2009	Cash Award, "PRINTED: A Juried Exhibition", Cabrillo Gallery, Cabrillo College, Aptos, California
	First Place, Juried Artist Award, Contemporary 2009: Sculpture, the Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, Colorado
2008	Juror's Choice Award, ArtSpan Benefit Art Show and Auction, Electric Works Gallery, San Francisco, California
2006	First Place Award, Pacific Prints 2006, Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, California
2005	Award of Excellence, "Impressions: Metric and Image", Alameda Art Center, Alameda, California
2003	Juror's Award, 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, California
2000	University Art Center Award, Pacific Prints 2000, Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, California
1999	The Blessing Semler Acquisition Award for The Art Collection of Pomona College, Montgomery Gallery
1997	Printmaking Award (3rd Place), The 7th KTEH Art Auction Exhibit, Triton Museum of Art, California
1996	Kyoto Art & Culture Association Director Award, 48th Kyoto Exhibition, Kyoto, Japan
1995	Kala Institute '95 Printmaking Fellowship Award, Berkeley, California
1989	Superior Work Award, All Japan University f Printmaking Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
	Kansai New Artist Award, Kansai Shinseisaku (New Production) Exhibition, Osaka, Japan
Collectors
Achenbach Foundation of Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, California Machida Museum of Graphic Arts, Tokyo, Japan Pomona College, Montgomery Gallery, Claremont, California Royal Museum of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Special Collection of Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California St Mary's Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, Colorado Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Diablo Valley College Library Permanent Collection, Pleasant Hill, California Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, New York San Francisco State University Fine Art Department Collection The Library Congress, Washington, DC Alameda County Art Collection, Oakland, California
About Toru Sugita was born in Shiga, Japan. He obtained his Bachelor of Education in Art at Kyoto University of Education. A printmaker, Sugita works with light and shadow, describing places architecturally, creating space using intersecting diagonal lines. He is often moved by shapes and colours that may change or disappear in the next moment, "when sunlight touches an object in the afternoon", and tries to capture moments that affect him by expressing them through his work. Sugita works with the intaglio process, concentrating mainly on etching and aquatint, and feels he can express himself best through the graphic nature of black and white. His printmaking style primarily dealt with Japanese themes, but Sugita who has been living in San Francisco for the last several years now tends to be drawn to Californian scenery. "I hope my work is appreciated by as many people as possible. I love prolonged shadows, air and the time of 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and I want to capture the transiency or fragility of those things in my work. I want to convey what I felt to viewers. I would rather 'convey' than 'be understood'. For this reason, I want to create artwork as understandable as possible."
Artist Statement I feel moved when sunlight touches an object in the afternoon and visualize the space around me. I walk out and wander around to observe shapes of shadows. I realize that shadows make spaces visible. I find myself in the spaces enjoying architecture delineated by sunlight. Buildings and their shadows are layered and blended together, creating momentary beauty of colors and shapes. These scenes are temporary, and will change or disappear in the next moment. They are very precious because their occurrence is the unique combination of a place, sunlight, and the precise moment I happen upon the scene like an eclipse. I spontaneously use photography to capture visual information. What results are like quick sketches. The camera documents specific moments of ever changing shapes and spaces. Although capturing the moment is quick, when I create works of art, I choose time-consuming autographical method in transferring information from the photograph. During the process of depicting information, I become involved deeply and identify myself as a part of the space. I note that nothing is permanent and everything is constantly changing: light, cityscape, and myself. I choose printmaking as my primary medium. The printmaking process is reminiscent of the relationship between light and shadow. Etching and aquatint help me express my interest in light and shadow by using their rich tones of black and white. The graphic nature of black and white leads me to lines and shapes found in architectural elements. Once I eliminated color from my work, I found myself drawn to the exploration of space itself. My work became about the physicality of three dimensional space. In old architectural sites, the transient, ephemeral quality of light and shadow becomes palpable. I began to work with large-scale three-dimensional drawings by stretching ropes from one point to another in a selected outdoor space during afternoon light; in which the ropes/lines become a temporary extension of the ambient architecture. Once completed, I videotape the drawing/installation. I find myself exploring the space that I have created with my 3-D structures interacting with the momentary phase of the architecture. I document the way I perceive and understand the space while merging with it in the transient afternoon light. January 2009
For further information, please contact: Canada: tel: (1) 604.688.2633, fax: (1) 604.688.2685