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MASAMI TERAOKA (b. 1936)

ARTIST BIO INQUIRE
 
Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more.
Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more. Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes. <br> <br>Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.” <br> <br>Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more.
Wave Series/Tattooed Woman at Sunset Beach198414 7/8 x 10 in.(37.78 x 25.4 cm) watercolor on paper
Provenance
Private Collection
Literature
Teraoka, M., Hoffman, K., Heartney, E., Bing, A., & Clark, C. (2012), Ascending chaos: The art of Masami Teraoka 1966-2006, San Francisco, Calif: Chronicle Books LLC, illustrated
Born in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Teraoka studied at what is now Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. His works are inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints. However, Teraoaka infuses the style and techniques of the traditional art with American Pop Art. The mass-produced nature of Japanese woodcut prints alligns with the obsession with mass production and consumption of Pop Art. Additionally, Ukiyo, meaning “the floating world” in Edo period Japan reflected the transitory nature of Kabuki theater and pleasure houses. This transitory sense of consumerism and pleasure was also evoked in the works by Pop Artists. Teraoka’s works are a collision of two cultures and histories of art finding affinities through similar themes.

Teraoka’s pieces blend humor and social commentary. He has often touched upon subjects as diverse and urgent as the AIDs crises, consumerism, the attacks on September 11th, and more. Teraoka notes of his own work, “Integrating reality with fantasy, humor with commentary, and history with the present became my challenge.”

Works by Teraoka can be found in the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and more.
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