Suemura Shobun

Suemura Shobun
On view: August 29–October 4, 2025
Opening reception: Friday, August 29, 5:00-7:00 pm

Suemura Shobun (1917-2000) was born as Suemura Bunzo in Osaka. After graduating from Imamiya Junior High School, he was apprenticed for five years to Yamamoto Shoen (also known as Chikuryusai I), a respected bamboo artist well known for his karamono-style flower baskets. Suemura became independent in 1941, taking the artist’s name “Shobun”. However, he had been independent for less than a year when he was drafted and assigned to work in a factory for the war effort. Suemura would not return to working with bamboo until almost a decade later.

In 1951, Suemura had his work accepted into Nitten, the annual exhibition mounted by Japan’s most prestigious fine arts organization, for the first time and would go on to be shown thirty-six more times. He won several awards at the Kansai Exhibition and the Osaka Craft Arts Association Exhibition. In 1962, he was admitted to the Japan Modern Craft Arts Exhibition and later became a full member after winning ten times consecutively. He then became a trustee, judge, and honorary member of the Japan New Craft Arts Association, along with accolades and awards through his fifty-plus year long career. He has held over forty-five private exhibitions of his art, and TAI Modern is proud to bring together this body of work spanning his entire career.

This exhibition will open on Friday, August 29 from 5-7pm, and will remain open until October 4. The gallery is open on Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.