Background
Born in Hiroshima Japan, 1949. Immigrated to Canada, 1961. Canadian Citizenship, 1976. Residing in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Education
- Graduated from the Department of Experimental Art, Ontario College of Art with Special Commendation Award, Toronto ON. 1974.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2015 Reciprocity. Katzman Contemporary, Toronto, ON.
- 2011 Surrender. Leo Kamen Gallery. Toronto. ON.
- 2008 Akira Yoshikawa: The Way of Now. Curated by Georgiana Uhlyarik. The Koffler Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 2006 Akira Yoshikawa: Select Works. Curated by Bryce Kanbara. Gendai Gallery, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON.
- 2004 Random and Imposed Order. Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON.
- 2003 Tempo. Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 2001 Accord. Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1997 The Champions of the Freedom Seekers. Showcase Project. The Redhead Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1996 Akira Yoshikawa. Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, ON.
- 1991 Empty Your Cup. Justina Barnicke Gallery, Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
- 1990 Recent Thoughts. Gallery/Stratford, ON.
- 1989 Akira Yoshikawa. Kingston Artists' Association, Kingston, Ontario.
- Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
- Niagara Artists' Centre, St. Catherines, ON.
- 1989 Akira Yoshikawa. Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.
- 1989 Akira Yoshikawa Recent Work. Curated by Linda Paulocik Station Gallery, Whitby, Ontario.
- 1983 Akira Yoshikawa at Mercer Union. Mercer Union, Toronto, ON.
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2020 "New Art Now: Recent Acquisitions" Curated by Sally Frater, Art Gallery of Guelph.
- 2019 Toronto Photoworks. Curated by Bryce Kanbara. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Don Mills. ON.
- 2014 Continuum. Curated by Patrick Macaulay, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
- 2012 Less. Curated by Alicia Boutilier. Agnes Etheington Art Centre,
- Queen's University, Kingston, ON.
- TransFormal. (Nobuo Kubota, Louise Noguchi, Naomi Yasui, Akira Yoshikawa) Curated by Chai Duncan. Latcham Gallery, Stouffeville, ON.
- 2008 Transcient. Toronto International Airport, Air Canada International Departure Lounge, Toronto, ON.
- 2008 Order/Disorder: A Sculpture Show (Flavio Trevisan, Cal Lane, Kristina Lahde, Michelle Allard, Akira Yoshikawa) Curated by Georgiana Uhlyarik & Maura Broadhurst. Latcham Gallery, Stouffeville, ON.
- 2002 In case of Rapture. Agnes Etherington Arts Centre. Queen's University, Kingston, ON.
- 2001 Take a Closer Look. Robert Langen Gallery, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON.
- 1997 Observance. (Nobuo Kubota, Louise Noguchi, Akira Yoshikawa) Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1996 Temporal. (Therese Bolliger, Peter Cosco, AkiraYoshikawa) Cold City Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1994 Transitional State of Mind and Body. Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON.
- 1991 Visions of Power: Contemporary Art by First Nations, Inuit & Japanese Canadians. Curated by Bryce Kanbara. Harbourfront Centre & Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1990 Rock, is there something you're not telling me? Curated by Ihor Holubizky. The Koffler Gallery, Toronto, ON.
- 1989 Systems and Processes. Agnes Etherington Arts Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON. Scaled to the Body. Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON.
- 1988 Today Show: Contemporary Art by Japanese Canadians. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Don Mills, ON.
- 1987 Shikata ga nai: Contemporary Art by Japanese Canadians. Organized by the Hamilton Artists' Inc. and circulated in southern Ontario.
- 1987 Secret Life of Object. Organized by the REPUBLIC. Art Resource Centre, Toronto, ON.
- 1985 Toronto/Drawing. Curated by Marshall Webb. Wynick/Tuck Gallery. Toronto, On.
- 1978 Aspect of Sculpture, 10th International Sculpture Conference. Curated by John Scott. Ontario College of Art, Toronto, ON.
- 1977 The Japanese Canadian Centennial Art Exhibition. Organized and circulated by The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
- 1977 Four Japanese Canadians. Art Gallery of Harbourfront. Toronto, ON.
- 1975 13 Experimental Artists. Gairloch Gallery, Oakville, ON.
- 1974 SCAN '74. Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
Collections
- Agnes Etherington Arts Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON.
- AIM Funds Management Inc. Toronto, ON.
- Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
- Art Gallery of Guelph. Guelph, ON.
- Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.
- Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON.
- Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON.
- Bank of Montreal, Toronto Head Office, Toronto, ON.
- Baycrest Health Care, Toronto, ON.
- Burlington Art Centre, Burlington, ON.
- Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, ON.
- Chalmers Foundation, Toronto, ON.
- Gallery/Stratford, Stratford, ON.
- Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta.
- Grimsby Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON.
- Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
- MacLean/Hunter, Toronto, ON.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ottawa, ON.
- Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto, ON.
- Morlock and Associates, Toronto, ON.
- Niagara Falls Arts Foundation, Niagara Falls, ON.
- Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto, ON.
- University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON.
- Station Gallery, Whitby, ON.
Selected Grants/Awards
- 2015 Ontario Arts Council Established Artist Grant.
- 2013 Banff Artist in Residency Program (BAIR), Banff Centre, Alberta.
- 2008 Residency Program, The Koffler Gallery.
- 1998 Ontario Arts Council Individual Artist Grant.
- 1995 Open Studio Visiting Artist Program.
- 1991 Ontario Arts Council Project Cost Grant.
- 1985 Ontario Arts Council Project Cost Grant.
- 1984 Canada Council Project Cost Grant.
- 1982 Canada Council Project Cost Grant.
Selected Guest Lectures/Studio Workshops
- 2006 Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON.
- 2004 Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON.
- 2001 Innis College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
- 1998 Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON.
- 1992 Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, ON.
- 1990 Gallery/Stratford, Stratford, ON.
- 1989 Kingston Artists' Association, Kingston, ON.
- Niagara Artists' Centre, St. Catharines, ON.
- 1985 Department of Experimental Art, Ontario College of Art.
Selected Bibliography
- 2020 "AGO Acquires Art of Akira Yoshikawa" Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Newsletter. Nov. 2020 issue by John Ota.
- 2020 "Artist Akira Yoshikawa Joins JC Giants at Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario Part 1 & 2" Discover Nikkei, July 2020 by Norm Ibuki.
- 2019 Japanese Canadians in the Arts. Royal Ontario Museum. Essay by Bryce Kanbara.
- 2012 Doubling Up. Kendra Jackson. Canadian House & Garden, Sept. issue
- A Conversation with Akira Yoshikawa. David Fujino. The Bulletin: The Journal Of Japanese Canadian Community. (JCCA) November issue.
- Less. Alicia Boutilier. Exhibition essay. Agnes Etherngton Art Centre, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON.
- 2008 The Way of Now. Exhibition essay by Georgiana Uhlyarik, Koffler Gallery.
- 2008 Artists voice mixed feelings about AGO. Peter Goddard, The Toronto Star, Nov.15th
- 2008 Critics' Choice. Peter Goddard, The Toronto Star. Sept.11th.
- 2008 Espace (Sculpture) Magazine summer 2008. Order/Disorder: A Sculpture Show, review by Gil McElroy
- 2006 Akira Yoshikawa: Select Works. Exhibition Brochure essay by Bryce Kanbara.
- 2004 A Clear and Open Poetry of Suchness: Recent works by Akira Yoshikawa.
- Exhibition catalogue essay by Ted Rettig for Akira Yoshikawa: Random and Imposed Order. Art Gallery of Peterborough.
- 2004 Art Papers Magazine, July/August 2004 issue. Review International review by Gil McElroy.
- 2003 The Toronto Star, Arts Review January 23rd, 2003 issue, Peter Goddard.
- 2000 Nikkei Voice, April 2000 Vol. 14, No. 3 issue, The Lightness of Being, The Art of Akira Yoshikawa, by Jesse Nishihata.
- 1997 The Globe & Mail, August 23rd 1997 issue, Nobuo Kubota, Louise Noguchi & Akira Yoshikawa at Leo Kamen Gallery, by Betty Ann Jordan.
- 1991 Visions of Power Art Show's Reach is Far Beyond Its Grasp, By Kate Taylor. The Globe & Mail July 5th 1991.
- Earth Spirit Cultures Celebrate Similar Visions, by Christopher Hume. The Toronto Star June 28th, 1991.
- 1989 "Fiction of the Real" Station Gallery exhibition essay 1989 by David Fujino.
- 1986 Akira Yoshikawa, Art Gallery of Hamilton by Marshall Webb. Vanguard Magazine, September, 1986.
Jury/Selection Committee
- 2008 Toronto International Airport (GTAA) Toronto, Ontario.
- 2006 Sculpture Society of Canada, 11th Graduating Sculpture Student Jury Committee.
- 1999 Ontario Arts Council Individual Artists Grant Jury Committee.
- 1997 Open Studio Visiting Artists Program Selection Committee.
Curatorial Organization
- 2018 Chirashi Sushi: An Array of Artworks 1972 - 2016 by Bryce Kanbara. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Don Mills, ON.
- 2014 Ochawan Transformation Exhibition. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Don Mills, ON.
- 1988 Today Show. co-curated with David Fujino. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Don Mills, ON.
Employment
Art Gallery of Ontario, Collections Management, Toronto, ON. 1974 - 2013.
