Eiko YAMAZAWA
山沢栄子
YAMAZAWA Eiko, born in 1899 in Osaka and is regarded as the pioneering female photographer in Japan. She first studied Japanese-style painting, then decided to go to the US to study painting further. She arrived on the West Coast in 1926 and worked as an assistant to the photographer Consuelo Kanaga (1894–1978) while studying painting at California School of Fine Arts. After eagerly learning photographic techniques and widening her knowledge, Yamazawa returned to Japan in 1929. In 1931, she opened her own photo studio. It was successful throughout her career, with the exception of the World War II. After a long career doing commercial work such as portraits, she abandoned commercial photography entirely, closing her studio and becoming involved in abstract art in the 1960s. In the 1980s she produced her most important series, titled What I’m doing, which was what we would totday call “constructed photography”. A large-scale retrospective exhibition of her work was held at Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya City and Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in 2018.
Chronology
1899 - Born in Osaka.
1918 - Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design.
1926 - Went to America to study California School of Fine Arts and became an assistant to the photographer, Consuelo Kanaga.
1929 - Returned to Japan.
1931 - Established Yamazawa Studio at Dojima Building in Osaka.
1935 - Yamazawa’s studio moved to Osaka Sogo Department Store.
1938 - Yamazawa Eiko studio moved to Suo-cho in Osaka.
1945 - Yamazawa’s Studio was burned down by heavy bombing in WWII.
1946 - Worked for P.X.studio of Occupation Forces in Kyoto.
1950 - Established the Yamazawa Institute of Photography in Osaka.
1952 - Established the Yamazawa Studio of Commercial Photography at Osaka Sogo Depart - ent Store.
1955 - Studied photography for six months in New York.
1960 - Closed the Yamazawa Studio of Commercial Photography.
1965 - Studied photography for six months in U.S.A and Europe.
1995 - Dies.
1918 - Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design.
1926 - Went to America to study California School of Fine Arts and became an assistant to the photographer, Consuelo Kanaga.
1929 - Returned to Japan.
1931 - Established Yamazawa Studio at Dojima Building in Osaka.
1935 - Yamazawa’s studio moved to Osaka Sogo Department Store.
1938 - Yamazawa Eiko studio moved to Suo-cho in Osaka.
1945 - Yamazawa’s Studio was burned down by heavy bombing in WWII.
1946 - Worked for P.X.studio of Occupation Forces in Kyoto.
1950 - Established the Yamazawa Institute of Photography in Osaka.
1952 - Established the Yamazawa Studio of Commercial Photography at Osaka Sogo Depart - ent Store.
1955 - Studied photography for six months in New York.
1960 - Closed the Yamazawa Studio of Commercial Photography.
1965 - Studied photography for six months in U.S.A and Europe.
1995 - Dies.
Publications
2019 - What I Am Doing. Akaaka
1994 - Yamazawa Eiko Ten (Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition). Itami: Itami City Museum of Art
1986 - Abstract Photographs. Tokyo: Tamako Okazaki Gallery
1983 - Watashi wa Joryū Shashinka (I Am a Woman Photographer). Osaka: Brain Center
1982 - What I’m Doing: Positions and Directions. Miraisha
1976 - Abstract Photographs. Yamazawa Photography Laboratory
1962 - Far and Near. Miraisha
1953 - Tankyū (Quest). Yamazawa Commercial Photography Studio
1921 - Eiko Gashū (Collected Paintings of Eiko). Hoshi Publishing.
1994 - Yamazawa Eiko Ten (Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition). Itami: Itami City Museum of Art
1986 - Abstract Photographs. Tokyo: Tamako Okazaki Gallery
1983 - Watashi wa Joryū Shashinka (I Am a Woman Photographer). Osaka: Brain Center
1982 - What I’m Doing: Positions and Directions. Miraisha
1976 - Abstract Photographs. Yamazawa Photography Laboratory
1962 - Far and Near. Miraisha
1953 - Tankyū (Quest). Yamazawa Commercial Photography Studio
1921 - Eiko Gashū (Collected Paintings of Eiko). Hoshi Publishing.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2020 - What I am doing. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
2019 - Eiko Yamazawa: WHAT I AM DOING. Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya, Japan; traveled to Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
2001 - Yamazawa Eiko: Gallery Collection. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
1996 - Form and Rhythm. Verso Photo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1994 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition. Itami City Museum of Art, Itami, Japan
1994 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition: Far and Near and What I Am Doing. Brain Center Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1992 - What I Am Doing: Abstraction ’92. Brain Center Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1991 - What I Am Doing: Abstraction ’91. Gallery Miyazaki, Osaka, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. Asahi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. Tamako Okazaki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. ABC Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1983 - Photographic Abstractions. Amano Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1983 - What I Am Doing. Nagase Photo Salon, Tokyo, Japan
1983 - Eiko Yamazawa: Abstract Photographs. Osaka Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, Japan
1982 - What I Am Doing 2. Line House, Kobe, Japan
1982 - What I Am Doing. Central Park Event Court, Nagoya, Japan
1981 - What I Am Doing. Gendai Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1979 - What I Am Doing. Masago Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1976 - Abstraction. Rock Paint Floor, Osaka, Japan
1976 - What I Am Doing. Shinjuku Nikon Salon, Tokyo, Japan
1974 - Japanese Folk Crafts. Sky Photo Gallery, Kobe, japan
1972 - Abstraction and Japanese Folk Crafts. Tokyo YWCA Sadohara Center, Tokyo, Japan
1967 - Eiko Yamazawa Photographic Works. Kobe Daimaru, Kobe, Japan
1965 - Figures and Still Lifes. Takashimaya New York, New York, NY
1963 - Abstraction and Still Lifes. Osaka Sogo, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo, Japan
1956 - In New York. Osaka Sogo, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Ginza Matsuzakaya, Tokyo, Japan
1951 - Portraits. Hankyu Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1949 - Yasue Yamamoto Costume Photographs. Osaka Asahi Hall Parlor, Osaka, Japan
1935 - Unknown exhibition. Seikosha, Osaka, Japan
1932 - Portraits of Creative Minds, Osaka Asahi Hall, Osaka, Japan
1929 - Unknown exhibition. Osaka YWCA, Osaka, Japan
2019 - Eiko Yamazawa: WHAT I AM DOING. Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya, Japan; traveled to Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
2001 - Yamazawa Eiko: Gallery Collection. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
1996 - Form and Rhythm. Verso Photo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1994 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition. Itami City Museum of Art, Itami, Japan
1994 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition: Far and Near and What I Am Doing. Brain Center Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1992 - What I Am Doing: Abstraction ’92. Brain Center Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1991 - What I Am Doing: Abstraction ’91. Gallery Miyazaki, Osaka, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. Asahi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. Tamako Okazaki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1986 - What I Am Doing 3. ABC Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1983 - Photographic Abstractions. Amano Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1983 - What I Am Doing. Nagase Photo Salon, Tokyo, Japan
1983 - Eiko Yamazawa: Abstract Photographs. Osaka Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, Japan
1982 - What I Am Doing 2. Line House, Kobe, Japan
1982 - What I Am Doing. Central Park Event Court, Nagoya, Japan
1981 - What I Am Doing. Gendai Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1979 - What I Am Doing. Masago Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1976 - Abstraction. Rock Paint Floor, Osaka, Japan
1976 - What I Am Doing. Shinjuku Nikon Salon, Tokyo, Japan
1974 - Japanese Folk Crafts. Sky Photo Gallery, Kobe, japan
1972 - Abstraction and Japanese Folk Crafts. Tokyo YWCA Sadohara Center, Tokyo, Japan
1967 - Eiko Yamazawa Photographic Works. Kobe Daimaru, Kobe, Japan
1965 - Figures and Still Lifes. Takashimaya New York, New York, NY
1963 - Abstraction and Still Lifes. Osaka Sogo, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo, Japan
1956 - In New York. Osaka Sogo, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Ginza Matsuzakaya, Tokyo, Japan
1951 - Portraits. Hankyu Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1949 - Yasue Yamamoto Costume Photographs. Osaka Asahi Hall Parlor, Osaka, Japan
1935 - Unknown exhibition. Seikosha, Osaka, Japan
1932 - Portraits of Creative Minds, Osaka Asahi Hall, Osaka, Japan
1929 - Unknown exhibition. Osaka YWCA, Osaka, Japan
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 - I’m So Happy You Are Here: Japanese Women Photographers from the 1950s to Now.Rencontres-Arles, Arles
2023 - Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2023. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2022 - Bunshi must have a camera. Osaragi Jiro Memorial Museum, Yokohama, Japan
2022 - Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka Opening Exhibition Hello! Super Collection—99 Untold Stories. Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
2021 - The New Woman Behind The Camera. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; traveled to National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
2021 - YAMAZAWA Eiko,OKANOUE Toshiko, ISHIUCHI Miyako 2021. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Capsule, Tokyo, Japan
2014 - Fujifilm Photo Collection: My Single Photo – A Collection of Single Photographs from Doyens of Japanese Photographic History. Fuji Film Square, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to other venues in Japan
2012 - The Pencil of Nature: Technique and Style. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2011 - Timeless – Yamazawa Eiko, Okanoue Toshiko and Ishiuchi Miyako. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
2011 - Five Women’s Eyes. MSC Gallery, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kyoto, Japan
2008 - Photo+Graph. Joshibi University of Art and Design Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to other venues in Japan
2006 - What I’m Doing: Yamazawa Eiko and Akasaki Mima. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
2001 - Japanese Women Artists Before and after World War II, 1930s–1950s. Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Utsunomiya, Japan
2000 - Verso Collection 4. Verso Photo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2000 - Joshibi: A Centenary Exhibition. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan
Osaka City Museum of Modern Art Collection 2000. ATC Museum, Osaka, Japan
1998 - An Incomplete History: Women Photographers from Japan 1864–1997. Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY; traveled to other venues in US
1998 - Corridor of the Gaze: The Lonely Maquette, Still Life Arrangement as Constructed Landscape. Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
1995 - Objects, Faces and Anti-Narratives— Rethinking Modernism, Part 1: Objects. Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
1987 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition Produced by Yoshio Hata. Gallery Miyazaki, Osaka, Japan
Japanese Women Photographers. Lehigh University Art Gallery, Bethlehem, PA.
1986 - Five Contemporary Artists with Eiko Yamazawa. Atelier Nishinomiya, Nishinomiya, Japan
1982 - The 3rd Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1981 - The 2nd Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1980 - The 1st Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1979 - Kakū Tsūshin Exhibition. Osaka Prefectural Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1970 - Kazuko Hamachi and Eiko Yamazawa: Abstraction and Still Lifes. Osaka Daimaru, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Germany
1961 - Yamazawa Photography Study Group Works. Fuji Photo Gallery Osaka, Osaka, Japan
1936 - The 10th Japan Photographic Art Exhibition. Osaka Matsuzakaya, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Nagoya, Shizuoka, and Tokyo, Japan
1929 - The Third International Photographic Salon of Japan. Tokyo Asahi Newspaper Company, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to Osaka
2023 - Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2023. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2022 - Bunshi must have a camera. Osaragi Jiro Memorial Museum, Yokohama, Japan
2022 - Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka Opening Exhibition Hello! Super Collection—99 Untold Stories. Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
2021 - The New Woman Behind The Camera. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; traveled to National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
2021 - YAMAZAWA Eiko,OKANOUE Toshiko, ISHIUCHI Miyako 2021. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Capsule, Tokyo, Japan
2014 - Fujifilm Photo Collection: My Single Photo – A Collection of Single Photographs from Doyens of Japanese Photographic History. Fuji Film Square, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to other venues in Japan
2012 - The Pencil of Nature: Technique and Style. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2011 - Timeless – Yamazawa Eiko, Okanoue Toshiko and Ishiuchi Miyako. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
2011 - Five Women’s Eyes. MSC Gallery, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kyoto, Japan
2008 - Photo+Graph. Joshibi University of Art and Design Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to other venues in Japan
2006 - What I’m Doing: Yamazawa Eiko and Akasaki Mima. The Third Gallery Aya, Osaka, Japan
2001 - Japanese Women Artists Before and after World War II, 1930s–1950s. Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Utsunomiya, Japan
2000 - Verso Collection 4. Verso Photo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2000 - Joshibi: A Centenary Exhibition. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo, Japan
Osaka City Museum of Modern Art Collection 2000. ATC Museum, Osaka, Japan
1998 - An Incomplete History: Women Photographers from Japan 1864–1997. Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY; traveled to other venues in US
1998 - Corridor of the Gaze: The Lonely Maquette, Still Life Arrangement as Constructed Landscape. Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
1995 - Objects, Faces and Anti-Narratives— Rethinking Modernism, Part 1: Objects. Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
1987 - Eiko Yamazawa Exhibition Produced by Yoshio Hata. Gallery Miyazaki, Osaka, Japan
Japanese Women Photographers. Lehigh University Art Gallery, Bethlehem, PA.
1986 - Five Contemporary Artists with Eiko Yamazawa. Atelier Nishinomiya, Nishinomiya, Japan
1982 - The 3rd Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1981 - The 2nd Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1980 - The 1st Kakū Tsūshin Tent Museum Exhibition. Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Japan
1979 - Kakū Tsūshin Exhibition. Osaka Prefectural Gallery, Osaka, Japan
1970 - Kazuko Hamachi and Eiko Yamazawa: Abstraction and Still Lifes. Osaka Daimaru, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Germany
1961 - Yamazawa Photography Study Group Works. Fuji Photo Gallery Osaka, Osaka, Japan
1936 - The 10th Japan Photographic Art Exhibition. Osaka Matsuzakaya, Osaka, Japan; traveled to Nagoya, Shizuoka, and Tokyo, Japan
1929 - The Third International Photographic Salon of Japan. Tokyo Asahi Newspaper Company, Tokyo, Japan; traveled to Osaka
Awards
1955 - Osaka Prefecture Art Award
1977 - Photographic Society of Japan Distinguished Contributions Award
1980 - Kobe City Cultural Prize
1986 - Iue Culture Award
1986 - Soroptimist Award
1987 - Japan Inter-Design Forum Award
1977 - Photographic Society of Japan Distinguished Contributions Award
1980 - Kobe City Cultural Prize
1986 - Iue Culture Award
1986 - Soroptimist Award
1987 - Japan Inter-Design Forum Award
Collections
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Chuo Historical Museum/ Planetarium, Tokyo, Japan
Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
Kawasaki City Museum, Kawasaki, Japan
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Itami City Museum of Art, Itami, Japan
Nirasaki Omura Art Museum, Nirasaki
Freer Gallery of Art Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, New York, NY
Chuo Historical Museum/ Planetarium, Tokyo, Japan
Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
Kawasaki City Museum, Kawasaki, Japan
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Itami City Museum of Art, Itami, Japan
Nirasaki Omura Art Museum, Nirasaki
Freer Gallery of Art Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, New York, NY
