Makiko Nakamura b. 1951

  • Makiko Nakamura’s finely worked abstract paintings are based on the meditative repetition and erasure of grid like structures and are... Makiko Nakamura’s finely worked abstract paintings are based on the meditative repetition and erasure of grid like structures and are... Makiko Nakamura’s finely worked abstract paintings are based on the meditative repetition and erasure of grid like structures and are... Makiko Nakamura’s finely worked abstract paintings are based on the meditative repetition and erasure of grid like structures and are...

    Makiko Nakamura’s finely worked abstract paintings are based on the meditative repetition and erasure of grid like structures and are distinguished by a highly burnished, reflective surface. Using a paintbrush and knife, the artist builds up layers of oil paint and then sands these back before finally 'glazing' the surface of the work. Linseed oil is used as a glaze and this process is repeated up to five times to achieve the desired lacquered-like finish.

  • “in my paintings I repeat the act of painting and erasing. Always thinking about the relationship between something being erased and the idea or the actual experience of disappearing. In the experience of disappearing something is always lost. Perhaps the idea of being and non- being is not far apart in my work”

     

    Makiko Nakamura's recent show When Star's are Born

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  • Biography
    Makiko Nakamura

     

    Makiko Nakamura was born in Japan in 1951. She was brought up by her Grandparents and started to paint at a very early age. Her Uncle, who had been killed in the war, was an artist like her Grandfather and the house was filled with his painting materials which she was given to use. During her childhood she learned the techniques of calligraphy and traditional Japanese painting and, as an only child, she described painting becoming her best friend and consuming her daily life.

     

    In 1966 she went to art school in Kyoto to study printmaking, sculpture, film-making and painting. Later she worked as a film editor. In 1995, following the death of her Mother she moved to Paris to continue her studies in painting and printmaking before heading to Philadelphia to study at the Graduate School of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania.

     

    In 1999 she moved to Dublin where she lived and worked for fourteen years, during which time she developed the distinctive process which has directed her painting ever since. In 2013 Nakamura returned to Kyoto where she lives and works today. Her paintings are held in the collections of the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Gate Theatre, Dublin.

     

  • Bibliography
    Makiko Nakamura

    Solo Exhibtions

    2024 When Stars are Born, John Martin Gallery, London

    2023 Paintings from Ireland, Spirit Studios, Suffolk

    2022 Rondo, John Martin Gallery, London

    2022 Wings, Moons and Love Songs, Taylor Galleries, Dublin, Ireland

    2019 Cassini’s Journey, John Martin Gallery, London

    2019 Love Song, Taylor Galleries, Dublin, Ireland
    2017 Moons of Jupiter, John Martin Gallery, London
    2014 Room, John Martin Gallery, London
    2013 Paintings 2011-2013, John Martin Gallery, London
    2012 Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    2012 Marchand d’art, Zurich, Switzerland
    2011 ‘passage’ Taylor Galleries, Dublin, Ireland
    2010 place, John Martin Gallery, London
    2009 Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    2007 Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    Glebe Gallery, Donegal, Ireland
    Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    2006 Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    2005 John Martin Chelsea, London, UK
    Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    2004 Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    2003 Ashford Gallery, RHA, Dublin, Ireland
    2002 Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    2001 Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co.Kildare, Ireland
    1999 The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
    1998 Morris Arboretum Gallery of the University of Pennsylvania, USA
    1997 Cloitre des Billette, Paris, France
    (In the Japan Year in France)
    1996 Gallery Kozuka, Nagoya, Japan
    (also in ’95, ’94, ’93, ’89)
    1995 Gallery 16, Kyoto, Japan
    (also in ’94, ’91, ’90, ’89, ’88, ’87, ’86)
    1987 ON Gallery, Osaka, Japan
    1986 Gallery Space to Space, Gallery Love collection, Nagoya, Japan

    Group Exhibitions

    2020 Preview, Cromwell Place, London

    2019 The Winter Show, John Martin Gallery, London

    2018 The Summer Show, John Martin Gallery, London
    2012 Fiera, Bologna, Italy, John Martin Gallery ( ’11)
    , Silvers and Golds, John Martin Gallery, London, UK
    2011 group show, Taylor Galleries, Dublin, Ireland
    ART ATHINA, John Martin Gallery, Greece
    2011 Arte Fiera, John Martin Gallery, Bologna
    2010 ART ATHINA, John Martin Gallery, Greece
    RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland
    (also in ’09, ’08, ’07, ’04, ’03, ’02 )
    Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Ireland
    (also in ’09, ’05, ’04, ’03 )
    2009 Storylines, John Martin Gallery, London, UK
    2008 Familiar Faces, Bourn Vincent Gallery, Univ.of Limerick, Ireland
    RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    2006 Art in State Buildings, Tour Exhibition of Government of Ireland
    RHA Gala Banquet Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland
    (also in ’04, ’03 )
    2004 Colour and Light, John Martin Gallery, London, UK
    invited artists exhibition, Cavanacor Gallery, Donegal, Lreland
    2001 Two painters show, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
    The Irish Connection, View Two Gallery, Liverpool, UK
    Three painters show, Ashford Gallery, RHA, Dublin, Ireland
    1999 Summer Exhibition, Hira Museum of Arts, Shiga, Japan
    1998 Large Print Exhibition, Meyerson Hall Gallery of the Univ.of Pennsylvania, USA
    1997 Three persons show, Deans Gallery of the Univ.of Pennsylvania, USA
    L’Exposition Collective, Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
    1995 Direction of Art 95, Osaka Prefectural Contemporary Arts Centre, Japan
    1980-94 Various exhibitions at Museums, Galleries in Japan in the ’80s and ’90s

    Education

    1996 L’Atelier Contre Point ( print making ) Paris, France
    1982 Nagoya Art School, Nagoya, Japan
    1970-72 Kyoto Seika Junior College, the Fine Arts department, Kyoto, Japan
    1967-70 Kanou Senior High School, the Arts Course, Gifu, Japan

    Awards & Residencies

    2010 Per Cent for Art Scheme at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
    2003 – 06 Membership of Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin , Ireland
    2000 – 01 Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japanese Research Fellowship
    1999 – 2002 Residency at the Fire Station Artists’ Studios, Dublin, Ireland
    1997 – 98 The post graduate school of Fine Arts of the University of Pennsylvania (as a visiting artist ) Philadelphia, USA
    1997 Residency at Cite Internationale des Arts Studios, Paris, France
    1986 Fine work prize ” the 16th International Art Exhibition Japan”
    Fine work prize ” the 7th Contemporary Japan Art Exhibition”

    Public Collections

    Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Gate Theatre, Wexford Opera House, The Office of Public Works, Ireland, National Self-Portrait Collection, Univ. of Limerick, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Boyle Civic Collection, AXA insurance
    The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
    Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
    Certre Culturel Lutherien de Paris, Franc