Fukita, Fumiaki (1926 - Present)
Fumiaki Fukita is a woodblock print artist best known for his abstract, geometric compositions. Fumiaki often works with Rawan, a hardwood native to the Philippines, and combines elements of relief and engraving technique in his printing process. Born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1926, he attended a teachers' college near home before moving to Tokyo. He studied oil painting at Tokyo University of Fine Arts for a year before joining the Japanese Print Association and Modern Art Society around 1957. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Fukita participated in international print exhibitions, including the the 1967 Sao Paulo Print Biennale where he won a prize. In 1968, he was appointed head of the Printmaking Department at Tama Art University, a position he held for many years. Fukita's work can be found in institutions such as the British Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the Museum of Modern Art, New York.