Nishijima, Katsuyuki (1945 - Present)
Katsuyuki Nishijima is a contemporary woodblock print artist known for his quiet landscapes and studies of traditional Japanese architecture. From snowy evenings and shaded alleys, to tiled roofs and thatched farmhouses, Nishijima captures both Japan’s natural and urban beauty with bold planes of color and geometric design. Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1945, Nishijima began his study of woodblock printmaking at the age of 19 at Kyoto’s Mikumo publishing house. From 1968 to 1972, he experimented with stencil dyeing and various forms of printmaking before focusing on woodblock printmaking. As Nishijima embraced the spirit of the Sosaku Hanga or “creative print” movement, he found profound inspiration in the architecture of Kyoto and beyond. Today Katsuyuki Nishijima has exhibited his work throughout Japan, Europe, and the United States.