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INTRODUCING RICHARD KEITH STEINER
WOODBLOCK PRINTMAKER
Chinshi Yu-shih, art critic

I have known Richard Steiner as a printmaker from his Hiroshima days in the early 1970, from when he first began studying under Masahiko Tokumitsu. His early works were assignments from his teacher in the Independent Printmaker Movement, and so reflected that style and technique. The emphasis was more on art than craft, on realistic renderings than pure self-expression. After 10 years, he received his artist's name, Tosai, and a teacher's license, then opened his own workshop in Kyoto. His first student was a young Indian woman, an exchange college student. After her there followed many more foreigners, but the vast majority of students were and still are Japanese.

Richard Steiner was born in Michigan, USA, in 1939. His father was a code maker and breaker for the Army during the war, then a life-long postal employee. His mother was a court reporter and traveller. From her, Richard got his curiosity for going to other countries. Both he and his younger sister, Leslie, have strong creative talents; hers covers both two- and three-dimensional art, while his was originally photography, and after 1970, woodblock printmaking. He is married to Kimiko, a translater and owner at SAT, Steiner Art Translate Bureau.

Quitting a career in fashion photography in New York City in 1970, Richard accepted a job to teach english in Hiroshima for a private school where he worked for one year. He then taught for another school and also privately until moving in 1972 to Kyoto, which he has made his permanent home. In 1974 he married Kimiko Kuroda from Okayama City. She is an art and religion translator with well over 100 publications to her name.

This is a very brief introduction. As he always says, to understand him, one need only look at his prints; a true artist creates only self-portraits, regardless of what the subject matter seems to be. As the artist's moods change, so does the output of his or her hands. A careful study of Richard's prints will reveal what he is thinking and feeling as well as the trajectory of his oeuvre so far.


RESUME FOR
Richard Keith Steiner
Woodblock Printmaker

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, USA, October 19, 1939
Studied woodblock printmaking under Masahiko Tokumitsu, Hiroshima, 1970 to 1980; in 1980, received artist's name, Tosai, and teacher's license
In 1980, opened own workshop, Tosai Print Studio, Kyoto
1976-1980, Artist-in-Residence, Friends World College, Kyoto Center
1980 to present, Field Advisor, Friends World College, Kyoto Center
1979 to 1981 assistant to Toshi Yoshida's summer print courses, Nagano Pref.
1980-1990 art instructor, Seika University, Kyoto
1987 to present, Kyoto City Deaf Center print instructor
1996 to present, woodblock instructor, Seika University, Kyoto
1997, inaugurated the Kyoto International Woodprint Association, (KIWA); organized international print competitions from 1997; (next: 2011)
1999, opened second studio, Blue Heron Workshop, Kyoto (closed: 2001)
2001, opened third studio and gallery, Inokuma Workshop, Kyoto

Group Shows, small (selected)
1975, two person show, Nijo Castle Gallery, Kyoto (with Brian Williams)
1981, organized two person show, Oni Gallery, Kyoto, "The Measure of Paper" (with Takushi Sugimura)
1983, organized two person show, Hotel Sunflower Gallery, Kyoto (with Mariko Sahara)
1997, organized three person show, Mainichi Hall, Kyoto (with Yuka Yamamoto and Michael Doerrer)
2008, two person show, Gallery Sou, Kanazawa (with Yamanokuchi Tohru)
2009, g5 Voices, 1 Songh, Yamamoto Gallery, Kyoto (with 4 students)
2009, International Exhibition of Art and Design, Kei-fu Gallery, Kyoto

Group Shows, large (selected)
1972 - 1990, Nippan Kai Print Association Exhibitions, Tokyo (awarded New Talent Prize, 1976)
1973, Kyoto City New Art Exhibition, Kyoto
1979, Kyoto City New Art Exhibition, Kyoto
1981-1983, Shina-no-Kai Print Group Shows, Kyoto
1984, UNESCO Art Exhibition, Kyoto
1984 to present, annual Workshop Exhibitions, Oni Gallery (7 years) and Kyoto International Community House
1985, Miniature Print Exhibition, Poland
1985, UNESCO Art Exhibition, Kyoto
1986, Miniature Print Exhibition, Spain
1986, Miniature Print Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
1988, First Kyoto Nippon Kai Print Association Exhibition, Kyoto City Art Museum (was exhibition director)
1988, International Art Exhibition, Kobe
1988, 1990, International Rotary Exhibition, Takashimaya Dept. Store, Kyoto
1990, Two-Workshops' Show, Handicraft Center, Kyoto (with Tomikichi Tokuriki)
1994 to present, annual To-no-Kai Print Shows, Osaka, Kyoto, Wakayama
1999, Calligraphy and Prints, B-One Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
1999, Expressions Graphics Show, Illinois, USA
1999, Baren Print Portfolio, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC
2000, I Muestra de Mini Gravura-Vitoria, Brazil
2001, 100 Universes Exhibition, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Oregon
2006, 15 Japanese Printmakers, Oregon (curator, participant)
2007, 15 Japanese Printmakers, Texas (curator, participant)
2009, Kyoto Art Festival Kyoto City Museum
2009, International Triennial, Bitola, Macedonia

Solo Exhibition (selected)
1974, Riverside Gallery, Michigan
1975, American Club, Tokyo
1982, Kibune Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
1982, Yokota Gallery, Hiroshima
1983, Japan Foundation, 12-Year Retrospective
1984, Shunjukan Gallery, Osaka1986, Heian Gallery, Kyoto
1987, Asupa Hall Gallery, Ayabe City
1987, Art-Kan Gallery, Fukui City
1988, American Club, Tokyo
1988, Shimane Pref. Museum of Art, Matsue City
1989, Kurashiki City Modern Art Museum
1989, Aizen Gallery, Ome City
1991, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Izumi-Otsu City, Osaka
1997, Plaza Miki Gallery, Kanazawa
1998, Ryubo Hall, Naha, Okinawa
2000, Joint-Hot Gallery, Kyoto
2000, Hanamaki Culture Center, Iwate Pref.
2001, San Gallery, Kyoto
2003, Nantenso Gallery, Kobe
2006, San Gallery, Kyoto
2008, Sho Gallery, Kanazawa


Collections and Gallery Representatives
Tollman Collection, Tokyo
Rotterdam Ethnological Museum
Kyoto City Government
United States of America Consul residence, Kobe
Bank of America, Tokyo
Japan Foundation
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
British Museum, London
Naha City Government
Yoseido Gallery, Tokyo
Japanese Gallery, London
Ronin Gallery, New York
EAS Gallery, Honolulu
Sirius, Inc., Tokyo


Relevant Employment
1980 to 1990, Art instructor, Kyoto Seika University
1991 to 1995, Interior designer and natural dyer, Hinaya Silk Company, Kyoto
1996 to present, print instructor, Kyoto Seika University
1997, First KIWA Exhibition (organized and curated this and all subsequent shows)
1998, Second KIWA Exhibition
1999, Third KIWA Exhibition
2003, Fourth KIWA Exhibition
2007, Fifth KIWA Exhibition


Books (all handmade and handbound)
1979, Alphabetic Tale
1981, She Took It
1982, Fushimi Clay Dolls
1986, Some Flowers With Interesting Names
1997, Worm's View
2003, Little Barth Goes Up


Studio address: 313 Ane-inokuma-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Japan 604-8324

Home address: 64-29 Matsunoki-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Japan 606-0816
tel: +81 (75) 721-9246; fax: +81 (75) 702-1726

(This selected resume has been updated October 2008.)