Kikuko Sakota Art

 Kikuko Sakota　Biography

Kikuko Sakota is a Japan-based artist.  Forms, movement and colors of nature in her neighborhood and home have been her inspiration.  Some of them occasionally remind her of the memories such as fairy tales and lyrics of songs, which also inspire her.  Studied painting, drawing, mixed media, and Japanese flower arrangement with many artists in Japan and U.S.A., she has found her expression in abstract painting using acrylic on canvas.  Employing various acrylic applications, she attempts to invite viewers to her spaces created from her conversations with small and neglectable but precious events of nature and objects in her day-to-day experience.  

Kikuko Sakota Statement

My attempt is to depict the spaces, which are filled with the surprise discoveries of seemingly neglectable but attractive objects and natural events in my daily life as precious ones.  They are strange shapes of clouds, lights reflected on leaves, moving shadows of branches, flowers blooming in unexpected locations, and colors of the sky and cool air and refreshing air I feel during my daily walks. I would like to share how I experience day-to-day events and small things that may look insignificant at first glance.

Influenced by Matisse, Monet, and American abstract expressionists such as Helen Frankenthaler, I developed an abstract style defined by the application of thick and thin acrylic layers, sometimes spontaneously, on linen or cotton canvases. I use various brush manipulation such as pouring, staining, soaking as well as dry methods as if I were playing around colors.  Occasionally gesso, adsorbent, and pastel are added accordingly.   

Depth and movement are created by multiple layers of acrylics and emotions are described by strokes.  One of my attempts is to create open and breathing space in canvas for providing viewers with uplifting moments.

My aim is to continue to explore various aesthetic ways of expressing and conveying my themes.

Kikuko Sakota Art Works

Kikuko Sakota CV

Kikuko Sakota, Japan

email:  kikuko112@outlook.jp

Website:  https://www.kikukosakota.com

Kikuko Sakota has studied painting, drawing, mixed media, and flower arrangement with a number of Japan-based and US-based artists, and she has been exhibiting her works since 1999.

Year of birth

1962

Nationality

Japanese

Education

1984 Bachelor of Letters, Division of English Literature and Language, Department of Liberal Arts, Doshisha University, Kyoto

Education (Short-term and with Private Teachers)

2023- Post Bacalaureat Visual Arts, UC Berkeley Extension

2023 Certified, Drawing and Painting for Textile, University of the Art London

2020-2021 Abstract Painting, Art Student League, N.Y.

2015- 2017 Enrolled at Academy of Art University (Painting, Drawing, Color Theory, Chiaroscuro), S.F.

1997-2004 Workshop of N.Y. Public Library-registered artist, Toshiko Tochihara, Kobe, Japan

2000 Otis Summer, Otis College of Art, L.A.

1997 San Francisco School of Art, S.F.

1997 Summer School, McGregor School of Southern Queensland University, Toowoomba, Australia

1997 Enrolled at Department of Art, Dominguez Hills School, California State University (Art History)

1994, Certified, Flower Arrangement, Ohara School, Himeji, Japan

Residency

World of Co Artist Residency, Bulgaria/Online

Solo Exhibitions

2025 Summer Symphony, Hiromart Gallery, Tokyo

2024 The Landscape where I am, Hiromart Gallery, Tokyo

2020/2023 Kikuko Sakota Solo Show, Hideharu Fukasaku Gallery Roppongi, Tokyo

2019 Kikuko Sakota Y Art Gallery, Osaka

2018 Kikuko Sakota, Noho Gallery M55, New York

2017 Kikuko Sakota, Art Imagine Gallery, Tokyo

2011 Atelier Series Vol.7 Kikuko Sakota, Nishiwaki Okanoyama Museum of Art, Hyogo, Japan

2009 Kikuko Sakota Monogatari, Gallery Shimada Deux, Kobe, Japan

2006 pink, blue, pink yellow, pink blue, pink, blue, Big Pagoda, S.F.

2005 The Recent Work, Gallery Gora, Montreal

2005 Kikuko Sakota Volume 3, Atelier TK, Tokyo

2004 Blooming, Caelum Gallery, N.Y.

2002 The Energy in Progress, Gallery Kitanozaka, Kobe, Japan

Group Exhibitions

2026 Infinite Summer, Palm Gallery, California/Online

2024 Abstract Painting Exhibition, BE=Lab & Gallery, Osaka

2024 Paris Art Fair, Paris, Expo-Pavillion 5, Paris

2024 Symphony, Group Show, Monat Gallery, Madrid

2023 Water the Exhibition, Laguna ART.com Gallery, California

2021 World of Co Artist Residency Exhibition, Bulgaria/Online

2020 Group Show Gallery Art Point, Tokyo

2020 Member Group Show, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley

2019 Group Show, Espacio Gallery, London

2017 POU Group Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe

2017 Art Wave Exhibition, Recto Verso Gallery, Tokyo

2016 Art Span Group Show, Orangeland, S.F.

2016 Pou Group Exhibition, Gallery Onetwentyeight, N.Y.

2016 Heart Art in Tokyo, The National Art Center, Tokyo

2015 Amsterdam Whitney Gallery Group Show, N.Y.

2015 Art Festival, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo

2014 Group Show, O Art Museum, Tokyo

2013 The 32nd Pou Group Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe, Japan

2013 Cities: All Dimension Exhibition, Tokarska Gallery, London

2013 3rd Annual Be a Saint Valentine's Day Art Auction, Silvia White Gallery, Ventura, U.S.A.

2012 Art Imagine Small Work Group Show, Art Imagine Gallery, Tokyo

2010 Pou II Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe, Japan

2010 The Group Exhibition What Is the Meaning of Art?, Art-Imagine Gallery, Tokyo

2010 Annual Juried Exhibition, Pleiades Gallery, N.Y.

2008 The Group Exhibition, Big Pagoda, San Francisco

2007 The 30th Pou Group Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Kobe, Japan

2004 The 16th Pou Group Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Kobe, Japan

2004 Madrid Art Saloon, Galerie Catarsis, Madrid

2003 The 13th Pou Group Exhibition, The Art Civic Center, Kobe, Japan

2003 Three Person Show, Caelum Gallery, N.Y.

2002/2003 International Group Show, Caelum Gallery, N.Y.

2002 The 7th Pou Group Exhibition, Himeji City Museum of Art, Himeji, Japan

2001 Two Persons Show, Order of Energy, Katina Huston & Kikuko Sakota,

Toa Gallery, Kobe, Japan

2000 The 5th Pou Group Exhibition, Gallery Oscar, Kobe, Japan

1999 The 4th Pou Group Exhibition, Gallery Lolo, Kakogawa, Japan

Representation

2024-        Hiromart Gallery Tokyo 

2023-2024 Monat Gallery, Madrid

2023-        LagunaArt.com Gallery

2006-2009 Big Pagoda, S.F.

Publications

July 6, 2025, The Tokyo Shimbun

June 13, 2025, Yomiuri Newspaper

November 11, 2024,  Yomiuri Newspaper

May 11, 2023 AATONAU, Kikuko Sakota: A Lifelong Dedication to Abstract Artistry

July 2017, Art Collectors

July, 2014, BT, (Bijutsu Techo)

August 19, 2011  Nishiwaki Newspaper

July, 2001, Kobe Newspaper

Awards

2016 Jury's Award, Heart Art in Tokyo, The National Art Center, Tokyo

2002 Award of Museum of Arts, Himeji City Art Exhibition, Hyogo, Japan

2000 Honorary Mention, Kobe City Art Exhibition, Hyogo, Japan