Tamiko Kawata Art
Japanese, b. 1936
At first glance, Tamiko Kawata’s work is elegant and engaging. On closer inspection, viewers grow more intrigued as they recognize the materials are unexpected — safety pins, rubber bands, used pantyhose and newspaper. She has created arresting jewelry, sculpture, “painting” on canvas and installations. “I like to use overlooked, indigenous objects from our daily life for my medium,” she explains. “Discarded materials are important to me not only for environmental issues but also to reflect my current life.” Kawata studied art in Japan, receiving her BFA in Sculpture at Tsukuba University. She explains that she was influenced by Bauhaus and Dada, and then the emergence of the Gutai Group, a Japanese avant-garde movement that began in 1954. All three art philosophies were particularly interested in unconventional materials. “These philosophies became a foundation for my way of thinking and for my art-making direction,” she says. In 1962, when she was 26, she came to New York, where she continues to live.
While Kawata has made large works of newspapers and pantyhose, she is perhaps best known for her works made of safety pins. On arriving in the US, Kawata needed them to make her American-sized clothes fit. She found the pins in abundance in a dime store and has explored their potential as an art material ever since. The extent of that potential is surprising. Kawata has used pins of different size and colors to create dramatic installation works, like Rain Forest in which chains of pins that end in circles on the floor recall a rippling pond in Kyoto and the victims of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. “I wanted to connect this beauty of nature and the atomic bomb victims,”
she has explained. She uses the pins to create standalone sculptures of all shapes that can be displayed indoors or out. She uses them to “draw” on canvas, too.
Kawata’s work is in numerous collections, including: Museum of Arts and Design, New York, New York; Honolulu Contemporary Art Museum, Hawaii; Ishiguro Art Collection, Tokyo, Japan; Lafcadio Hearn/Yakumo Koizumi Art Museum, Matsue, Japan; Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin; Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada; Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, New York; Yusuke Aida Collection, Tokyo, Japan; Davis Brody & Bond Architects, New York, New York; Ishiguro Art Collection, Tokyo, Japan; LongHouse Reserve, East Hampton, New York; PREC Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Buenno Premesela Art Collection, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She is the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships including the Ucross Art Residency; American Academy for Arts and Letters, 2015 Purchase Award; Meet Factory Art Foundation Award,Solo Show and Residency, Prague, Czechoslovokia; Pollock/Krasner Foundation Grant; McDowell Art Colony Residency and the Yaddo Art Colony, Louise Bourgeois Residency Award for Sculpture.(Biography provided by Browngrotta Arts)
to
7
13
9
9
4
4
4
Permutation 7
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in Wilton, CT
Discarded materials are important to Tamiko Kawata, not only for environmental issues but also to reflect her current life. Her choice of materials and interpretation are influenced ...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Wood Panel, Pins, Textile, Canvas
Morning Dew Necklace, Hematite beads and safety pin wearable art
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
1990s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Silver
Sunflower, Stainless steel safety pin wearable art necklace, 1999
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
1990s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Stainless Steel
The Pod, abstract minimalist brass safety pin sculpture, 2019
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Kawata has an intimate relationship with her seemingly mundane materials. As she fastens each pin, forms grow beneath her fingers. The metallic, serpentine sculptures toe the line be...
Category
2010s Minimalist Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Found Objects
Morning Dew Necklace 1, Swarovski Peacock beads and safety pins
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
1990s Assemblage Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Silver
Waterfall, Black and brass safety pin and gold wearable art necklace
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
2010s Assemblage Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Gold, Brass
CBM-3, minimalist cardboard, acrylic sculpture, 2018
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
In this most recent body of work, Kawata shreds and reconfigures corrugated cardboard to create objects of fantasy and minimalism. Transformed by volume and manipulation, the artist...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Acrylic, Cardboard
Permutation 10, minimalist safety pins abstract sculpture, 2018
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
In this most recent body of work, Kawata shreds and fastens and reconfigures safety pins to create objects of fantasy and minimalism. Her "Permutations" wall-sculptures are methodica...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Wood, Pins
Permutation 11, abstract wall-hanging sculpture, found safety pins
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
In this most recent body of work, Kawata weaves her signature safety pins to create objects of fantasy and minimalism. Transformed by volume and manipulation, the artist elevates th...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Acrylic, Pins, Board
Cleopatra Necklace, brass plated safety pin wearable art, statement jewelry
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko repurposes quotidian objects to create exquisite fine art jewelry. She was trained in sculpture at Tokyo University. Kawata grew up in Japan, in the wake of World War II, and ...
Category
1990s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Silver
Paper Clip Rubbing, abstracted turquoise pastel rubbing on vellum, 2011
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
In this most recent body of work, Kawata takes the mundane and makes it magical. Transformed by volume and manipulation, the artist elevates humble paperclips from their prosaic, ut...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Pins
Clips - 4 Black, realist black and white conte crayon rubbing, patterned design
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata selects everyday objects as inspiration for her work, making magic out of the mundane. In this conte crayon rubbing, paperclips cascade across the lightly-toned ground....
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Conté, Crayon, Tissue Paper
Clips C-2 Purple Blue, realist conte crayon rubbing, pattern design
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata selects everyday objects as inspiration for her work, making magic out of the mundane. In this conte crayon rubbing, paperclips cascade through a rich midnight ombre. T...
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Conté, Tissue Paper
Related Items
Neon glass tubing, rims, and transformers, sculpture
Located in Inglewood, CA
Metal rims, neon sculpture
53 x 18.5 x 18.5 in.
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Metal
"Broken Promise" wood panel; found object; religious; mixed media
By Mark Palmer
Located in Rockledge, FL
"Broken Promise" 2021 speaks about my upbringing in the Catholic Church and the teachings of "love thy neighbor as thyself". As a boy, I took all that I was taught extremely literall...
Category
2010s Outsider Art Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Metal
H 12 in. W 8.75 in. D .50 in.
Collaged Geometric Disc Mobile - Abstract, Colourful, Canvas and Board Mobile
By Aron Hill
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Dynamic and whimsical, Aron Hill’s mobile is a joyful contemporary kinetic sculpture. Three separate discs are covered in a curated collage of shapes and brilliant colours. The colou...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Metal, Wire
H 42 in. W 63 in. D 63 in.
"Lady of the Palace" Marble Sculpture 20" x 6" x 5.5" in Ed. 1/1 by Hany Gabriel
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lady of the Palace" Marble Sculpture 20" x 6" x 5.5" in Ed. 1/1 by Hany Gabriel
* Due to the Ministry of Culture policy + COVID situation, handling t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Marble
H 20 in. W 6 in. D 5.5 in.
Chord, 2023, fabric, thread, pins, plastic, colorful abstract sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Fabric, Thread, Plastic, Pins
Untitled (0393), 2021 fabric, thread, pins, plastic, colorful abstract sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Fabric, Thread, Plastic, Pins
Untitled (0381), 2021 fabric, thread, pins, plastic, colorful abstract sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt sources and arranges her fabric...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Thread, Plastic, Pins, Fabric
Blue Boy
By Billy Criswell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Criswell's dimensional wall sculpture emerged from a study of spatial organization by arranging basic, repetitive shapes into a harmonious balance, while exploring the concept of sim...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Wood, Paint, Wood Panel
Lapse, 2023 fabric, thread, pins, plastic, colorful abstract sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Fabric, Thread, Pins
Pool, 2023, fabric, thread, pins, plastic, colorful abstract sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Fabric, Thread, Plastic, Pins
Mesh, fabric, thread, pins, plastic, abstract colorful sculpture
By Linda Schmidt
Located in New York, NY
Linda Schmidt’s fabric sculptures intertwine public and private, luxury and common. There is a sense of egalitarianism present in both the way Schmidt sources and arranges her fabric...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Fabric, Thread, Pins
Fig. 9.4
By Eric Rhein
Located in New York, NY
Eric Rhein | “Fig. 9.4”
1998
Signed, verso
Wire, paper, and found objects
19 x 17.5 x 3 inches (48.3 x 44.5 x 7.6 cm), framed
This work is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Category
1990s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Wire
Previously Available Items
Tamiko Kawata, Twelve Arms, Safety pins sculpture, 2015
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
In this most recent body of work, Kawata fastens and manipulates safety pins to create objects of fantasy and minimalism. Her sculptures are twisting, serpentine labyrinths. Transfor...
Category
2010s Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Pins
H 18 in. W 14 in. D 14 in.
Sunflower, Gold and nickel safety pin wearable art necklace, 2015
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
2010s Assemblage Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Gold, Silver
Tie Necklace, silver, brass, and nickel safety pin wearable art
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata repurposes quotidian objects and transforms them into wearable art necklaces. She likes to use overlooked indigenous objects from daily life for her medium. Discarded m...
Category
1990s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Gold, Wire
H 11 in. W 5 in. D 2 in.
Sunflower #2, safety pin necklace, wearable art, statement jewelry, 2015
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko repurposes quotidian objects to create exquisite fine art statement jewelry. She was trained in sculpture at Tokyo University. She grew u...
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Silver
Tamiko Kawata, Small Pueblo #2, Abstract nickel and steel safety pin sculpture
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata was trained in sculpture at Tokyo University. She grew up in Japan, in the wake of World War II, and immigrated to New York in 1962. Her approach is informed by moderni...
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Steel
Clips - Blue C1
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata was trained in sculpture at Tokyo University. She grew up in Japan, in the wake of World War II, and immigrated to New York in 1962. Her approach is informed by moderni...
Category
2010s Contemporary Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Conté, Tissue Paper
Silver Sphere
By Tamiko Kawata
Located in New York, NY
Tamiko Kawata was trained in sculpture at Tokyo University. She grew up in Japan, in the wake of World War II, and immigrated to New York in 1962. Her approach is informed by modernist ideas of Dada and Assemblage. Experimental in nature, Kawata explores the physicality of humble materials via multiplicity and unexpected juxtapositions. She creates category-defying works that range from collage and sculpture to major site-specific installations. The safety pin is her signature building block, but she also incorporates other everyday, utilitarian objects in her work with similar effect.
Kawata has exhibited extensively, both in the United States and internationally. Her work is held in numerous public collections and she is the recipient of multiple awards and residencies from institutions such as such as the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Pollock/Krasner Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts, MacDowell Colony Residency, Yaddo Art Colony, and The Millay Colony for the Arts.
Tamiko Kawata
Silver...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Tamiko Kawata Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Tamiko Kawata art for sale on 1stDibs
1stDibs offers a wide variety of authentic Tamiko Kawata art for sale. You can also browse by medium to find art by Tamiko Kawata in found objects, metal, pins and more. Much of this artist's original work was created during the 21st Century and Contemporary, and is mostly associated with the Contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Tamiko Kawata art, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers interested in this artist might also find the work of Joe Wheaton, Koji Takei and Niho Kozuru. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at US$500 and tops out at US$20,000, while the average work can sell for US$1,225.