Kazuo NakamuraLife & Work

Painters Eleven co-founder Kazuo Nakamura (1926–2002) was one of the great Canadian artists of the twentieth century, famous for his muted landscapes and his abstract compositions. Born in Vancouver, Nakamura grew up fascinated by his uncle’s collection of Japanese art magazines, and as a teenager he studied with the influential West Coast modernist Jock Macdonald. However, in 1942, during the Second World War, Nakamura’s early training came to an end when he and his family were sent to a Japanese internment camp in Tashme, B.C. Two years later the Canadian government forced them to relocate and they eventually settled in Toronto.

In the post-war years, Nakamura continued his artistic education at Central Technical School in Toronto. He also took night classes with Albert Franck, who introduced him to Toronto’s art scene. Before long Nakamura secured solo exhibitions and in 1953 Nakamura was included in Abstracts at Home, a show held at the Simpson’s department store in Toronto. This event led to a critical meeting at the home of artist Alexandra Luke where the groundbreaking abstract-artist group Painters Eleven was formally established. Though he exhibited with them regularly, Nakamura’s career was highlighted by a number of successes outside of the group as well and when it disbanded in 1960 he was at the height of his artistic career. In later years Nakamura became known for committing to abstraction in paintings and in sculpture.