1960
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
1992
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Post MFA Doctoral Level Program in Nihonga, National Cultural Affairs Scholar, first non-Japanese citizen to be accepted into the program
1989
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, M.F.A., Tokyo, National Cultural Affairs Scholar, top thesis prize
1983
Bucknell University, double major in Animal Behavior and Art, with a minor in Creative Writing, B.A., Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, cum laude, Creative Arts Award
Works and lives in New York, U.S.A.
Leadership Positions
2003 - 2008
National Council on the Arts member (a six year Presidential appointment), awarded the Chairman’s Medal (2008)
2007 - 2008
Represented United States as part of a first official cultural delegation to China headed by Presidential Commission on the Arts and Humanities, represented the National Endowment for the Arts at the annual convocation, Pueto Rico
2003
Selected by the White House to travel with the US delegation at the US re-entry ceremony for UNESCO, Paris
2003-present
Invited member of Yale University's Faith and Life work group lead by Dr. Miraslov Volf
1990-present
Founder and Creative Director, International Arts Movement (www.iamny.org)
2001 - 2002
Initiated the TriBeCa Temporary project (www.tribecatemporary.com) to encourage ground zero artists
Frequent lecturer in universities, including Cornel University, Rhode Island School of Design, Maryland Institute of Art, New York University, Washington University at Saint Louis, Gordon College, Messiah College, Taylor University, Bethel College, Kyoto Arts and Crafts College as well as Bucknell University.
Keynote speeches given at Michigan Arts Educator’s conference, Trinity Board Gathering, International Arts Movement conferences, as well as lectures given at the Orlando Museum of Art and De Young Museum of Art
Privately mentored students and recent graduates of Parsons School of Design, School of the Visual Arts, New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, American University, Tyler School of Art, Hope College, Messiah College, Gordon College, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, the University of Pennsylvania, Syracuse University and Bucknell University.
Solo Exhibitions
2009 Olana – Songs of Ascent, Whitestone Gallery, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
2008 Charis, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
2006
Golden Flames, Sara Tecchia Roma, New York, U.S.A.
Making Peace, The City of London Festival with Yoko Ono, All Hallows on the Wall, U.K.
2005
Water Flames, Sara Tecchia Roma, New York, U.S.A.
2003 - 2004
The Still Point, Takashimaya Gallery, Tokyo, Osaka, Japan
2003
Golden Pines, Dillon Gallery, Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.A.
2003
Four Quartets, Kristen Frederickson Contemporary, New York, U.S.A.
2002
Columbines, Matsuya Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Gravity and Grace, Bellas Artes Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Makoto Fujimura, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka, Japan
Makoto Fujimura, The Eugene and Leona Olson Gallery, Bethel College, Minnesota, U.S.A.
2001
Makoto Fujimura Retrospective III, Sen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Makoto Fujimura, Dillon Gallery, Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.A.
Gravity and Grace, Laurel Tracey Gallery, Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.A.
The Burning Bush, Engstrom Galleria, Taylor University, Indiana, U.S.A.
Makoto Fujimura, The Henry Luce III Center for Arts and Religion, Washington D.C. , U.S.A.
Quince, Narthex and Stairwell Gallery, St. Peter's Church, New York, U.S.A.
New York Works, Barrington Center for the Arts, Gordon College, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
2000
Altarpiece, St. James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, New York, U.S.A.
St. John Project, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Makoto Fujimura Retrospective II, Sen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1999 – 2000
Millennium Exhibition, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York, U.S.A.
1999
Makoto Fujimura Retrospective I, Sen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1998
Hours, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Makoto Fujimura, Gallery You, Kyoto, Japan
Makoto Fujimura, Kawarahara Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
1997
Images of Grace, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
The City of God, Gallery You, Kyoto, Japan
1996
New York Works, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1994
New Works from New York, Takashimaya Contemporary Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
The Four Doors, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1993
Unconditional Love, Yamagawa Art, Tokyo, Japan
1992
Doctor Class Exhibition, Tokyo National University of Art and Music, Tokyo, Japan
Solo Exhibition, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1990
Solo Exhibition, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1989
Solo Exhibition, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Topos, Ethos, IBM Gallery, Kawasaki, Japan
1988
Solo Exhibition, L'espoir invitational, Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1987
Solo Exhibition, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Museum Exhibitions
2008 - 2010
To-ki-Michi, A Survey of Contemporary Nihonga, Ueno Royal Museum, Hakodate Museum, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum, and twelve other museums throughout Japan
2008
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Sanbi-shosha Collection Acquisition Exhibit, Japan
2007
Sheldon Survey: An Invitational, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, U.S.A.
Flowers in Contemporary Nihonga, Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Ibaraki, Japan
2006
Water Flames and Zero Summer, Katzen Arts Center, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
2005
Considering Peace, Sato Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2003
Contemporary Nihonga Artists - the Pioneers, Okazaki Museum, Japan
NICAF Artfair, Tokyo, Japan
2001
SNAPSHOT, organized by The Contemporary Museum, Maryland, traveling to Arcadia University, and Aldrich Museum, Connecticut, U.S.A.
1999
Like a Prayer, Tryon Center for Visual Arts, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.
One Hundred Years of Nihonga, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Station Invitational, Tokyo Station Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1998
110 Selection of Graduation Works: 110th Anniversary of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Matsuzakaya Museum, Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan
Akitsugu Ishizaki, Makoto Fujimura and Masako Takebe, The Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Contemporary Nihonga Exhibit, Contemporary Museum of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Collections Exhibit, Nerima Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Nature in Art, The Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Mitsukoshi Museum Invitational, Tokyo, Japan
1997
A City of God: Makoto Fujimura Retrospective, The Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Contemporary Nihonga, Yamatane Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
1996
Saturnine/ Mercurial: The Many Moods of Watercolor, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Fragments of a Journey, Center Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Mitsukoshi International Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Museum, Tokyo, Japan
VOCA Invitational, The Ueno Royal Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
A Passionate Look, Collection of Sanbi-shosha, Sudo Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Contemporary Nihonga, Yamatane Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
1994
The New Nihonga, Koriyama City Museum of Art, Koriyama, Japan
Beyond the Nihonga- An Aspect of Contemporary Japanese Painting, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1993
Art in Japanesque, O Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1991
Artists Today, Yokohama Citizen's Museum, Japan
1990
New Voices: Contemporary Japanese Paintings, North Dakota Museum of Art; Talley Gallery, Bemidji State University; Center for the Arts Gallery, Morehead State University and Southwest State University Gallery, a traveling exhibition, U.S.A.
Group Exhibitions
2008
MA: The New Tradition in Nihonga, Dillon Gallery, U.S.A.
2007
New Art, Curated by Keiji Hayashi, Yokohama Citizen’s Gallery, Japan
0x0 Hiroshima, curated by Kasumi Kitada, Hiroshi Senju, Robert Kushner, Pamela Moore, Judith Kruger and others
2005
The Voting Booth Project, Parsons School of Design, U.S.A.
2003
The WRONG Exhibit, Birmingham, U.K.
2002
WATERwalks, ISE Cultural Foundation, New York, U.S.A.
The Return of Beauty, Kristen Federickson Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1999
Two-T, TriBeCa Temporary Exhibits, New York, U.S.A.
Inaugural Exhibit, Makoto Fujimura, James Elaine and William Basinski, TriBeCa Temporary Exhibits, New York, U.S.A.
Art as Prayer, Cooper Union Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Nihonga, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Fifth Annual Invitational, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1998
Summer Group Exhibition, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
The Last "'Hisho" Exhibit, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1997
Black or White, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Neo-Rimpa, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka (including Robert Kushner, Hiroshi Senju and Betty Woodward), Japan
Drawings II, Tamaya Gallery, Japan
1996
Past-Past, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Drawings, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
I'll Exhibit III, Tomura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1995
Following the Sublime, Dillon Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
One Hundred Artists, a Charity Exhibit for Kobe Earthquake Victims, Takashimaya Galleries, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Japan
Hiro Yokose and Makoto Fujimura, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1994
10 x 10, Tribeca 148 Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
New Mind Art - Viewing Beauty, Onward Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1993
Wall to Wall, Tribeca 148 Gallery, New York, U.S.A., received Best of Show Award
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
IAM 1993 Exhibit, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
The Essence of Beauty - Japanese Aesthetics, Gallery Gen, Saitama, Japan
1992
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
I'll Exhibit II, Tomura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Collections Exhibit, Gallery Ginza Kyubi, Tokyo, Japan
Landscapes of Heisei, Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1991
The 27th 'Artists Today' Exhibition- The Present as History, Yokohama Citizen's Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
I'll Exhibit I, Tomura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1990
Sacred Arts, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, Illinois, won purchase award, U.S.A.
International Arts Fellowship Exhibit, The Manila Hotel, Philippines
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1987
Hisho, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Collaborations
2008
IAM Collaboration with Jerzy Sappieyvski, Miguel Sanchez Romera, TriBeCa Performing Arts Center, U.S.A.
2007
Painted Music, with Jerzy Sapieyevski, produced by Valerie Dillon
Hybridity, Carnegie Hall, American Composers Orchestra, for Susie Ibarra, became the first visual artist ever to paint live on stage at Carnegie Hall, U.S.A.
2005
Shangri-La at The Kitchen, modern opera written by Susie Ibarra, Yusef Komunyaka, Video Installation
2003
Christmas in Peace Concert with Chu Kosaka and friends," at Tokorozawa Muse, Saitama, Japan, painted images using Nihonga materials and Polaroid photos which were projected onto the background scenery during the concert, organized by International Arts Movement in collaboration with Michtum Records, Tokyo, Japan
Eirenepoios installation of paintings, drawings, video projections with music by William Basinski at Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Project Room, U.S.A.
2002
The Wrong Exhibit, performance of projection and painted images with experimental music team Iacon
2001
Post-911 collaboration with performance by Mamoru, video by William Basinski, art and oration by Makoto Fujimura, OSC Center, Tokyo, Japan
2000
Gethsemane, a collaborative event at Makoto Fujimura Exhibit with John Silvis, Mamoru, Judith Ferrenbach Bradshaw, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, organized by International Arts Movement, U.S.A.
1998
Restaurant of the Soul, adult manga/art book published by TBS Brittanica, Japan with Michael Sack, illustrator Kenji Yagi, and composer Yashihisa Sakai, Japan
Conferences
2009 Encounter: Art in Action, Creative Director, Tribeca Performance Center, Pace University, speakers includes Billy Collins, Nicholas Wolterstorff,, performances by Jose Limon Dance, Helen Sung. Organized by International Arts Movement
2008 Encounter: Transforming the River of Culture, Creative Director, Tribeca Performance Center, speakers included Terry Teachout, Michael O’Siadhail, Tara Donovan, Jeff Speck. Organized by International Arts Movement
2007
Redemptive Culture, Creative Director, Tribeca Performance Center, speakers included Daniel Libeskind, Jeremy Begbie and others. Organized by International Arts Movement
2006
Artists as Reconcilers, Creative Director, Copper Union Universtiy, speakers included Dr. Miroslav Volf, Dana Gioia, Patty Heaton and others. Organized by International Arts Movement
2002
The Return of Beauty, Conference Director, speakers included Dr. Dennis Donoghue, Dr. Elaine Scarry, Rick Moody, Marie Ponsot, Makoto Fujimura, organized by International Arts Movement with Image Journal, at New York University and other venues
2001
It was Good, Conference Director, speakers included Dr. William Edgar, Gordon Pennington, Gregory Wolfe, Joyce Robinson, Peter Corriston, in collaboration with The King's College, conference lectures established as senior art seminar at The King's College, used live internet feed to Tokyo and London, organized by International Arts Movement with The King's College
1999
Art as Prayer, Executive Director, speakers included Steve Turner, Nigel Goodwin and others, concerts and exhibits including "The Land of Misfit Toys" at Cooper Union Great Hall featuring Danielson Famile
Curatorial Experiences
2003
Considering Peace, an exhibit of 135 international artists to benefit UNESCO, hosted by Sato Museum, Tokyo, organized by International Arts Movement in collaboration with Art NPO, Tokyo, Japan
2002
The Return of Beauty, including works of Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Chris Anderson, Bruce Herman, James Elaine, Denise Green and others, hosted by Kristen Frederickson Gallery, New York, organized by International Arts Movement
The Wrong Exhibit, Birmingham, UK, exhibited, lectured and juried works by high school students
2001 – 2002
TriBeCa Temporary Exhibits (www.tribecatemporary.com), involving over 25 artists including Gretchen Bender, Hiroshi Senju, Robert Kushner, Kevin Clark, Denise Green, Pamela Moore, Jinnie Seo and others for six months of exhibits, performances, Happenings, and poetry readings focused on Ground Zero artists and their experiences, organized by International Arts Movement
2000
Art as Prayer, including works by Joseph Beuys, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Tobi Kahn, Sigmar Polke, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Daniel Smith, co-curated with Tim Rollins, James Romaine at Cooper Union Gallery, New York, organized by International Arts Movement
1999
New NIHONGA Tradition, Dillon Gallery, New York, works of four contemporary Nihonga artists
1993
IAM 1993 Exhibit, Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1990
International Artists Fellowship Exhibit, The Manila Hotel, Philippines
Reviews, Articles and Catalogues
2008
Culture Makers, featured on the cover, Andy Crouch, Christianity Today
Artist of Faith, Michelle Morrissey, Salem News
2007
Review: American Composer’s Orchestra, Steve Smith, The New York Times
Can Paintings Create Music, Sara Rose, Associated Press, Washington Times, MSNBC, The Canadian Press, Times of India, and other newspapers
Faith in Art, Eric Gorski, Associated Press, Guardian Unlimited, Seattle Times, MSNBC, The Honolulu Advisor and other newspapers
Maureen Mullarkey The New York Sun, “Winter Trio: Laurie Fendrich at Katherina Rich Perlow; Alice Federico at George Billis Gallery, Makoto Fujimura at Sara Tecchia Roma” Available at http://www.maureenmullarkey.com/essays/fendrich.html
2006
British Broadcasting Company, “Destination Tokyo: Yayoi Kusama, Makoto Fujimura and others”, August
2005
Christine Cavallomagno, “Makoto Fujimura, Sublime Mystery”, NYArts Magazine, December
David Gelernter, “A Faithful Art: Makoto Fujimura and the redemption of abstract expressionism”, The Weekly Standard, March 7
2003
Booyeon Lee, "Simple Truth: Art of Makoto Fujimura", International Herald Tribune, November 1-2
"The Splendor of a Medium", Kristen Frederickson Contemporary
2002
Richard Tobin, "Gravity and Grace", THE Magazine
Kyle MacMillan, "Street of Treasure in Santa Fe", Denver Post
Ellison Walcott, "Much to discover in two Tribeca exhibits", Downtown Express, June 18-24
Wayne Roosa, "A Three-Part Meditation on Makoto Fujimura's Triptych", Bethel College
"Makoto Fujimura, Retrospective III", Sen Gallery, Tokyo
2001
"Beauty without Regret", curated by Robert Kushner, Bellas Artes, Santa Fe, New Mexico
"Transcendent Space; with Mineral Pigments", Daily Yomiuri, May 25
William A. Dyrness, "Visual Faith: art, theology and worship in dialogue", Baker Academic
"The Pursuit of Faith Through Art," The Japan Times, April 18
Tim Walker, "Japanese Art Displayed in Galleria", Arts and Entertainment, The Echo, April 20
"Off the Walls", Worldwide Challenge Magazine
"Makoto Fujimura, Retrospective II", Sen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2000
"Makoto Fujimura, Retrospective I," Sen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
"Nihonga of the 20th Century", Tokyo National University Museum Press
"St. John's Project", Dillon Gallery Press
1999
"Hours", Dillon Gallery Press
"On the Cover", International Art Now Gallery Guide, November
Margaret Moorman, "New York Reviews", Art News, November
1997
"Images of Grace", Dillon Gallery Press
1996
"New York Works", Dillon Gallery Press
Jim Heintz, "Japanese Painters Look to the Past", Associated Press, May 22
George Melrod, "Openings: Future History", Art and Antiques, May
Gerard Haggerty, "Reviews", ArtNews, November
Robert Kushner, "Reviews", Art in America, December
1992
"Makoto Fujimura, Works 1990-1992", Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1989
"Makoto Fujimura, Works 1987-1990", Tamaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1987
Judith Callander, "Makoto Fujimura's Nihonga Paintings at Tamaya Gallery", The Japan Times, January 18
Amaury Saint-Gilles, "The Installation of Makoto Fujimura's Nihonga", Mainichi Daily News, January 8
DVD productions
2009
Water Dances, collaboration with Susie Ibarra, Plywood Film
2005
Water Processes, with music by Susie Ibarra, for “Water Flames” exhibit at Sara Tcchia Roma, New York
2004
Nagasaki Koi, with music by Mamoru, for “Splendor Exhibit” at Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Project Space
2003
Eirenepoios, with music by William Basinski, video taken and edited by Makoto Fujimura, used at Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Project Space
2002
Hiroshima, video taken and edited by Makoto Fujimura, used at Two-T Exhibit with Albert Pedulla, TriBeCa Temporary
2001
Gethsemane, video taken by Michael Kaufmann, music by Mamoru, edited by Makoto Fujimura, based on a collaborative event of the same title
Collections
Roberta Ahmanson
Howard Lutnik
Contemporary Museum of Tokyo
Oxford House, CNN/Time Warner Building, Taikoo Place, Hong Kong
The Sato Museum
St. Louis Art Museum
Tamaya Corporation
Sanbi-Shosha Collection, Japan (gifted to Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 2008)
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Yamaguchi Prefecture Museum
Nerima Art Museum
Kikkoman Corporation
Gordon College
New Haven Christ Presbyterian Church
Gallery Representations
Dillon Gallery, New York
Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka
Sen Gallery, Tokyo
Published Writings
“Refractions: a journey of art, faith and culture,” NavPress, February, 2009
"River Grace," Image Journal, Number 22, 1999
"Fallen Towers and the Art of Tea," Image Journal, Number 32, 2001
"That Final Dance," It was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, edited by Ned Bustard, Square Halo Press, 2000
"An Exception to Gravity - On Life and Art of Jackson Pollock," Re:generation Quarterly, Volume 7, Number 3, Fall, 2001
"A Letter to a Young Artist," Scribbling in the Sand, Michael Card, InterVarsity Press, 2002
