Vintage Prints
AY-O [1931- ]
Born in Ibaraki, Japan in 1931, Ay-O studied fine art at Tokyo University of Education (now the University of Tsukuba) and emerged as a leading avant-garde artist. In 1958, he moved to the United States and was based in New York, where he became an active member of Fluxus, the international avant-garde art movement.
Known for his vivid, rainbow-centered aesthetic, Ay-O earned the nickname “Rainbow Man.” His diverse body of work spans painting, printmaking, performance, and happenings, and has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and internationally.
Kumi Sugai [1919-1996]
Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture in 1919. Studied at Osaka Art School and worked as a graphic designer before moving to France in 1952, where he began working in printmaking (lithography) in 1955. He lived in Paris until his later years and was highly acclaimed in France, Europe, and the United States for his unique style.
Toshinobu Onosato [1912-1986]
A pioneer of avant-garde art since the prewar period, he is a leading Japanese abstract painter who has attracted worldwide attention, including two consecutive entries in the Venice Biennale as a representative of Japan.
Based in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, he worked so much that he rarely left his studio, leaving behind numerous oil paintings and watercolors as well as approximately 200 prints.
Testuo Mizu [1931- ]
Born in Tokyo in 1944, Mizu was profoundly inspired by Modigliani and regarded him as a lifelong mentor. He began formal art studies in 1971 at Musashino Art Academy and soon embarked on a dedicated creative career.
The “Flag Series,” which rose to prominence in the 1980s, employs the visual language of international maritime signal flags—each representing an alphabet letter or numeral, a communication system established in the mid-19th century. Mizu ingeniously transforms each letter of a title into its corresponding flag, creating abstract compositions with a distinctive worldview.