“#3” (1972), Nobu Fukui (b. 1942), serigraph, 27×22 in., signed & numbered 36/100, abstract geometric work rooted in Gutai influences.

$3,800.00

“#3” (1972), Nobu Fukui (b. 1942), abstract serigraph, 27×22 in., signed & numbered 36/100, layered geometric color-field composition.

This 1972 abstract serigraph by Nobu Fukui exemplifies postwar geometric abstraction, blending Gutai-influenced energy with refined color-field structure and disciplined form.

Artwork Description

“#3” (1972) is a sophisticated abstract serigraph by Nobu Fukui, created during a pivotal period in the artist’s career when he was deeply engaged in printmaking as a primary means of experimentation. Measuring 27 × 22 inches, the composition is built around layered geometric forms—most notably an octagonal structure nested within broader architectural shapes—rendered in muted earth tones and soft ochres.

The surface reveals subtle variations in ink density, evidence of the artist’s hands-on approach to the serigraph process. The softly irregular edges and tonal transitions create a sense of movement and depth, balancing precision with organic imperfection. This tension between structure and expression reflects Fukui’s philosophical alignment with the Japanese avant-garde, particularly the Gutai movement’s emphasis on material presence and emotional immediacy.

Signed and numbered 36/100, the work belongs to a limited edition produced in 1972, a year that marks Fukui’s mature synthesis of Japanese abstraction and American postwar modernism. The restrained palette and architectural geometry invite contemplative viewing, suggesting both spatial environments and internal states rather than literal representation.

Artist Biography

Nobu Fukui (born 1942, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese-American artist whose career spans painting, printmaking, collage, and mixed media. He immigrated to the United States in 1962, first settling in Chicago before relocating to New York City in 1963, where he has lived and worked for decades.

Fukui studied at the Art Students League of New York during the mid-1960s, immersing himself in the vibrant postwar American art scene. His work reflects a fusion of Japanese avant-garde philosophy—particularly the legacy of the Gutai Art Association—with American abstraction. While not a formal Gutai member, Fukui absorbed the movement’s emphasis on originality, process, and the physical engagement of the artist with materials.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Fukui developed a distinctive abstract language grounded in geometry, layering, and subtle color relationships. His serigraphs from this period are especially noted for their balance of discipline and expressive nuance. Over time, his practice expanded to include collage and mixed media, incorporating elements of pop culture while maintaining a cohesive abstract sensibility.

Fukui has exhibited extensively in the United States and internationally, with numerous solo exhibitions in New York and museum appearances in both the U.S. and Japan. His work is held in major public collections, and his long career reflects a sustained commitment to experimentation and cross-cultural dialogue.

Nobu Fukui (b. 1942), “#3,” 1972. Abstract serigraph, signed and numbered 36/100, 27 × 22 inches. Postwar Japanese-American abstraction.

Certificate of Value & Authentication

This certifies that “#3” (1972) by Nobu Fukui is an original signed and numbered serigraph, edition 36 of 100, measuring 27 × 22 inches. The work is authenticated based on signature, edition markings, medium consistency, and established provenance. Estimated fair market value reflects comparable works by the artist from the same period.

Provenance

• Artist: Nobu Fukui
• Mitch Morse Gallery, New York City (acquired directly from the artist or secondary market)
• Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)

“#3” (1972), Nobu Fukui (b. 1942), abstract serigraph, 27×22 in., signed & numbered 36/100, layered geometric color-field composition.

This 1972 abstract serigraph by Nobu Fukui exemplifies postwar geometric abstraction, blending Gutai-influenced energy with refined color-field structure and disciplined form.

Artwork Description

“#3” (1972) is a sophisticated abstract serigraph by Nobu Fukui, created during a pivotal period in the artist’s career when he was deeply engaged in printmaking as a primary means of experimentation. Measuring 27 × 22 inches, the composition is built around layered geometric forms—most notably an octagonal structure nested within broader architectural shapes—rendered in muted earth tones and soft ochres.

The surface reveals subtle variations in ink density, evidence of the artist’s hands-on approach to the serigraph process. The softly irregular edges and tonal transitions create a sense of movement and depth, balancing precision with organic imperfection. This tension between structure and expression reflects Fukui’s philosophical alignment with the Japanese avant-garde, particularly the Gutai movement’s emphasis on material presence and emotional immediacy.

Signed and numbered 36/100, the work belongs to a limited edition produced in 1972, a year that marks Fukui’s mature synthesis of Japanese abstraction and American postwar modernism. The restrained palette and architectural geometry invite contemplative viewing, suggesting both spatial environments and internal states rather than literal representation.

Artist Biography

Nobu Fukui (born 1942, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese-American artist whose career spans painting, printmaking, collage, and mixed media. He immigrated to the United States in 1962, first settling in Chicago before relocating to New York City in 1963, where he has lived and worked for decades.

Fukui studied at the Art Students League of New York during the mid-1960s, immersing himself in the vibrant postwar American art scene. His work reflects a fusion of Japanese avant-garde philosophy—particularly the legacy of the Gutai Art Association—with American abstraction. While not a formal Gutai member, Fukui absorbed the movement’s emphasis on originality, process, and the physical engagement of the artist with materials.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Fukui developed a distinctive abstract language grounded in geometry, layering, and subtle color relationships. His serigraphs from this period are especially noted for their balance of discipline and expressive nuance. Over time, his practice expanded to include collage and mixed media, incorporating elements of pop culture while maintaining a cohesive abstract sensibility.

Fukui has exhibited extensively in the United States and internationally, with numerous solo exhibitions in New York and museum appearances in both the U.S. and Japan. His work is held in major public collections, and his long career reflects a sustained commitment to experimentation and cross-cultural dialogue.

Nobu Fukui (b. 1942), “#3,” 1972. Abstract serigraph, signed and numbered 36/100, 27 × 22 inches. Postwar Japanese-American abstraction.

Certificate of Value & Authentication

This certifies that “#3” (1972) by Nobu Fukui is an original signed and numbered serigraph, edition 36 of 100, measuring 27 × 22 inches. The work is authenticated based on signature, edition markings, medium consistency, and established provenance. Estimated fair market value reflects comparable works by the artist from the same period.

Provenance

• Artist: Nobu Fukui
• Mitch Morse Gallery, New York City (acquired directly from the artist or secondary market)
• Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)

Nobu Fukui

(American/Japanese, born 1942)

Nobu Fukui — Biography

Nobu Fukui (born 1942, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese-American artist whose career spans more than six decades of innovation in painting, printmaking, collage, and mixed media. Widely exhibited in the United States and Asia, Fukui is recognized for his dynamic abstract language that bridges Japanese avant-garde sensibilities with post-war American modernism.

Early Life and Education

Nobu Fukui was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1942. He immigrated to the United States in 1962, arriving first in Chicago before relocating to New York City in 1963, where he would make his creative home and studio for the remainder of his career. Shortly after arriving in New York, Fukui enrolled at the Art Students League of New York, studying there during the mid-1960s, a period of vibrant artistic exchange and experimentation in the city’s galleries and studios.

Artistic Development and Influences

Fukui’s artistic identity is shaped by a rich fusion of cross-cultural influences. Though trained in traditional techniques, he embraced abstraction early in his career, exploring geometry, surface, and spatial relationships through both painting and printmaking. A key influence on Fukui’s early work was the Gutai Art Association, a revolutionary Japanese avant-garde movement founded in 1954 that emphasized originality, material experimentation, and the integration of performance and process into visual art. Fukui himself has acknowledged his connection to Gutai’s expressive ethos even as his personal style evolved into more structural abstraction.

During the 1960s, Fukui operated within the broader context of American avant-garde circles, where the boundaries between painting, printmaking, and conceptual art were actively being tested. His early work reflects the era’s enthusiasm for abstract form and process, while his later work would expand into collage and mixed media. Throughout his career, Fukui maintained a versatile approach, refusing to be confined to a single stylistic category.

Artistic Style and Mediums

Fukui is perhaps best known for his abstract serigraphs and prints, often limited editions that explore the interplay between geometric structure and color field. Works such as those produced in 1972 (e.g., #3, 1972 and #6, 1972) demonstrate his refined use of layered shapes and muted tones, balancing precision and expressive depth. These serigraphs reflect both mid-century abstraction and a personal visual logic grounded in simplicity and resonance.

His practice is not limited to printmaking. Fukui also creates paintings, collage works, and mixed media pieces, often utilizing layered surfaces and textured backgrounds. His later works incorporate elements of pop culture, collage techniques, and even influence from anime and manga imagery, expanding his visual vocabulary while maintaining a cohesive abstract sensibility.

Career and Exhibitions

Fukui has exhibited extensively in the United States and internationally. He has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in major New York venues, including Margaret Thatcher Projects and the Stephen Haller Gallery, where his work was shown repeatedly over many years. According to exhibition records, highlights of his show history include:

  • “Nobu Fukui: New Works and Old Friends,” The Gibson Gallery, SUNY Potsdam (2020)

  • “Nobu Fukui: Paradise,” Margaret Thatcher Projects, Chelsea, New York (2018)

  • “Nobu Fukui: I Am the Fire,” Margaret Thatcher Projects, Chelsea, New York (2015)

  • Multiple exhibitions at Stephen Haller Gallery, Chelsea, New York

His work has been included in group exhibitions spanning several decades and continues to be represented in shows that explore post-war to contemporary abstraction.

Collections and Recognition

Fukui’s work appears in notable public and museum collections. Examples include the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, and the Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, among others.

Critics have reviewed his work in respected publications including The New York Times, Art in America, and Art News, among others. His paintings and prints are recognized for their energetic yet disciplined approach, combining abstract visual language with a quiet internal logic.

Legacy and Approach

Fukui’s artistic philosophy emphasizes exploration over categorization. In his own words, his work has evolved without concern for strict stylistic labels—abstract, representational, or conceptual—and instead reflects a lifelong commitment to visual language and creative discovery.

Living and working in New York City, Fukui continues to bridge cultures—drawing on his Japanese roots, his identity as an American artist, and global contemporary art dialogues. His career exemplifies a sustained engagement with modernist abstraction, enriched by a willingness to experiment across media and methods.

Citations

• Artsy — Nobu Fukui artist profile
• Rak Art Foundation — Nobu Fukui collection profile
• First Person: Nobu Fukui, Tilted Arc (artist interview)
• SUNY Potsdam, Gibson Gallery exhibition coverage
• Exhibition histories from Margaret Thatcher Projects and Stephen Haller Gallery

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2020

2018

2015

2014

2013

2008

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024

2023

2021

2019

2017

2016

2015

Timeline

1964–1965

ART STUDENTS LEAGUE, New York, NY

Exhibitions

2009

CONTINUUM, Stephen Haller Gallery, New York

2008

CONFLUENCE Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2008

Words Become Pictures (catalogue) Molloy College Art Gallery, Rockville Centre, NY

2008

Constant Aesthetic 2008 Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2007

ART20 2007 The Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY

2007

Color! Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2007

Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY (solo)

2006

Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY (solo)

2006

ART20 2006 The Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY

2006

Solstice Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2005

Focal Point Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2005

Asian Fusion Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY

2004

Resounding Spirit – Japanese Contemporary Art of the 1960s, Gibson Gallery, Postdam, NY

2004

Stephen Haller Gallery, New York, NY (solo)

2004

Gallery Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL (solo)

1999

Central Fine Arts, Inc. New York, NY (solo)

1995

Barbara Scott Gallery, Bay Harbor Island, FL (solo)

1993

Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York, NY (solo)

1993

Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (solo)

1993

Hokin Gallery, Palm Beach, FL (solo)

1993

David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI (solo)

Literature

2008

Catching the Imagination in Language and Imagery, B. Genocchio, New York Times, February 24, 2008

2008

The Eye Can Be Drawn..., Ariella Budick, NEWSDAY, March 14, 2008

2007

Dizzy Superheros, Michael Tyson Murphy, VILLAGE VOICE, June 21, 2007

2007

Nobu Fukui - Looking Forward - at Stephen Haller Gallery, ART KNOWLEDGE NEWS, June 12, 2007

2005

States of Stability, Carter Ratcliff, ART IN AMERICA. May 2005

2004

Nobu Fukui, Grace Glueck, THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 14, 2004

2004

A Man of Spirited Exploration, Priya Malhotra, ASIAN ART NEWS, November/December, 2004

2004

Gallery Going – Nobu Fuki, David Cohen, THE NEW YORK SUN, April 22, 2004

2000

Nobu Fukui at Central Fine Arts, Eleanor Heartney, ART IN AMERICA, February 2000

1993

Nobu Fukui, Henry Geldzahler, Marisa Del Re Gallery exhibition catalog, 1993

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