Tetsuo Ochikubo

Art Brokerage: Tetsuo Ochikubo Japanese-American Artist: b. 1923-1975. Ochikubo was a Japanese-American painter, sculptor, and printmaker who was born in Waipahu, Hawaii, Honolulu county, Hawaii. Ochikubo fought as a soldier in World War II. After being discharged from the Army, he studied painting and design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago under the G. I. Bill. He eventually returned to Hawaii which is where he lived, studied at The Art Students League, and held his studio practice. Ochikubo was inspired by nature as well as his inner feelings. He aimed to translate what he saw in nature, its patterns and colors, plus his own personal emotions into visual form. Ochikubo looked to both eastern and western artistic influences, but he ultimately channeled eastern philosophy and artistic theory into his work. Ochikubo looked to the Gutai school of painters in Japan. Gutai translates as 'concreteness', and it expressed one of the distinct traits of the group. They aimed to physically engage with a range of materials. Ochikubo would also do carpentry and fix furniture when he found a need for more physical expression. He would then return to painting, relieved and invigorated by expressing his creativity in a different format. Ochikubo believed that an artist needs to create whatever they feel like creating, whether it is painting, prints, or sculpture, as they felt necessary. Freedom of artistic expression was key. Ochikubo also enjoyed print making, but found that he lost interest after the initial creative labor stopped and the printing process began. Listings wanted.