Sugai Kumi, born in Kobe, relocated to France in 1952 at the age of 33 and established his base in Paris. He is widely recognized as a pioneering figure among postwar Japanese artists who gained international acclaim, particularly in Europe and North America.
In the 1950s, Sugai’s early works—characterized by simplified forms and layered color fields bearing visible brushstrokes—were described in the Parisian art scene as possessing a “refined savagery.” From 1963 onward, his style underwent a radical transformation, shifting toward geometric forms and flat planes of color, deliberately eliminating personal expression.
This pursuit of clarity and rationality, rejecting ambiguity, became a hallmark of his artistic philosophy and extended into his personal life, where his disciplined lifestyle is the subject of many anecdotes.
Sugai Kumi
1919—1996