Biography
KAKU
"Untitled" (Wire, Washi, Paint) -「無題」(100号 螺旋・彩色紫), 1989
Washi paper, wire, paint (framed)
H63 x W51 1/8 x D2 3/8 in
H160 x W130 x D6 cm
H160 x W130 x D6 cm
"The message I want to convey in my work is that the shapes that spill out of my hands during the silent time I spend each day, which is akin to meditation, are always spirals. You could say that it is a form close to my physiology. When the individual pieces begin to come together, I feel as if they emit a voice. The innocent feelings that the primitive man must have had in the distant past melt into the pieces and proliferate with a will. The work aims to be one universe."
KAKU
KAKU (b. 1950) is an internationally celebrated artist and designer whose avant-garde approach to traditional Japanese materials have captivated audiences for over five decades. KAKU designs in materials including washi, lacquer, metal for exhibition installations and functional objects. His unique approaches—such as redesigning the ergonomics of a chair or the washi pieces coiled around wire—garner much attention both overseas and Japan, and he has shown extensively around the world.
Works
Exhibitions
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KAKU: Spiral Rhythm
5 - 28 Feb 2026Exhibition opens Thursday, February 5th, 2026Read more
Opening Reception at 35 N Moore Street, TriBeCa: February 5, 2026, 5–8 PM
Private viewing by appointment only.
NEW YORK, NY – Ippodo Gallery is pleased to present Spiral Rhythm, the first solo exhibition of acclaimed Japanese artist KAKU at Ippodo Gallery. More than a dozen works of paper and three-dimensional wall sculptures, composed from tens of thousands of hand-wrapped washi paper spirals, are on view from February 5 to February 28, 2026. KAKU meditates on the significance of washi paper as an integral element in Japanese culture, particularly as it evokes qualities of warmth, innocence, and quiet in everyday life. The essence of washi offers a material intelligence that refreshes the soul. -
Panta Rhei: Everything Flows
Works by Five Artists on Japanese Washi Paper 27 Apr - 27 May 2023Ippodo Gallery presents selected washi artworks by five Japanese artists (KAKU, Mami Kato, Yasue Maetake, Ryuji Taira, Kaori Teraoka) working with traditional paper in diverse modes. Panta Rhei: Everything Flows...Read more
Events
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TEFAF Maastricht 2026
14 - 19 Mar 2026FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Authentic Colors of Japan MAASTRICHT, NETHERLANDS – Ippodo Gallery is pleased to announce its debut participation in TEFAF Maastricht 2026, presenting a landmark exhibition titled Authentic Colors of Japan at Booth 476. From March 14 to March 19, the exhibition will feature masterful objects by 20 of Japan’s most distinguished contemporary artists. Their creations evoke vivid pigments sourced from nature and explore the primal power of color through the nation’s rarest traditional materials. This showcase of authentic Japanese colors offers visitors an encounter with a spectrum of mediums: the deep reds of vermillion lacquer, the luminescence of Gofun white from oyster shells, the brilliance of gold and silver leaf, and the depth of indigo blue. The exhibition highlights how ancient techniques are being radically recontextualized for global contemporary audiences: cutting edge mother-of-pearl inlays are naturally luminescent like digital screens; revolutionary silk Obi belts woven with opal incorporate the thousand-year history of Japanese weaving with new understanding of minerals; and masterworks in bamboo, Nihonga painting, and clay are grounded in the earthy, tactile aesthetics of the Japanese landscape. "To witness these artworks is to see the 'colors' of Japan not as mere pigments, but as living history," says Shoko Aono, the director of Ippodo Gallery. "In presenting pieces by these 20 esteemed artists in Maastricht, we are showcasing a mastery that is at once ancient and avant-garde." Exhibiting artists: Shin Fujihira, Shihoko Fukumoto, Kondaya Genbey, Yuki Hayama, Hideaki Honma, Terumasa Ikeda, Manji Inoue, Hajime and Yasuo Ishikura, Hiromi Itabashi, Yukiya Izumita, KAKU, Sho Kishino, Hirotomi Maeda, Masaaki Miyasako, Jihei Murase, Daisuke Nakano, Junko Narita, Reiji Omori, Hiraku Sudo, Shion Tabata, and Sōyō and Shōdo Yamagishi.Read more -
Design Miami 2024
3 - 8 Dec 2024New Winds in Japanese Art & Design Presenting at Design Miami for the third consecutive year, Ippodo Gallery introduces new interpretations and explorations of tradition...Read more -
Salon Art & Design 2024
Park Avenue Armory 7 - 11 Nov 2024Ippodo Gallery debuts at Salon Art + Design the concept Growing Roots: The Next Generation of Japanese Art featuring a range of works made of...Read more -
Design Miami 2023
Forms and Formations 5 - 12 Dec 2023Booth G35 Ippodo Gallery presents Forms and Formations , featuring great names in contemporary Japanese fine art at Design Miami 2023 from December 5 to...Read more
Blog
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Design Miami/ 2023 Recap
February 19, 2024Ippodo Gallery’s presence at Design Miami/ for a second year is met with rave reviews. We are so grateful for the enthusiastic responses of our...Read more -
Artist Spotlight: KAKU
Panta Rhei: Everything Flows, Works by Five Artists on Japanese Washi Paper April 18, 2023KAKU , In-situ 'Untitled' (Wire, Washi, Paint) 「無題」(50 号 螺旋・和紙 ) (A25724) The artist known by the pseudonym KAKU has captivated the hearts of audiences...Read more