KAZUYA SAKAI (Buenos Aires, 1927 – Dallas, 2001) Of Japanese descent Sakai majored in philosophy and literature at the Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. While living there he decided to dedicate himself to painting, although his literary bent persisted. In addition to his art career, he translated some of the important Japanese writers of the 20th century into Spanish.
During his Tokyo sojourn he became acquainted with the work of the painter Katzuo Shiraga and other artists of the Gutai group, a noticeable influence on his early production. In 1952, back in Argentina, he joined de Artistas Modernos group and had his first solo exhibition at La Cueva Gallery. In 1957 he took part in the Siete Pintores Abstractos (Seven abstract painters) exhibition held at the Galería Pizarro. In 1962 he had two one-person shows, at Galería Bonino and Galería Galatea, two very prestigious art galleries in Buenos Aires at the time.
A year later he moved to New York City, where he remained until 1965, when he left for Mexico, living there until 1988. While in Mexico, Sakai gradually abandoned his characteristic gestural, materic style and leaned towards a bright, colored, geometric abstraction. He then joined the team of Octavio Paz, and became one of the founders of Plural , a literary magazine, where he worked as editor and art director.
In 1988 he went back to reside in the United States. Sakai exhibited regularly in the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Spain and Japan.
His work is included in numerous private and public collections, amongst others: Museo De Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires (MAMBA), Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico; Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; Museu de Arte Moderna do Río de Janeiro, Brazil; Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, Brazil; The Austin University Museum, Austin,Texas.