1898 - 1994

Feitenblad

  • Art period: Modern
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Died: 1994
  • Museums on this site: Smithsonian American Art Museum
  • Works on this site: 1
  • Lifespan: 96 years

The Life and Art of Bumpei Usui

Born in Nagano, Japan, Bumpei Usui was a painter, artist, and art collector who spent much of his life in New York. After traveling to London at nineteen, he learned English and worked decorating furniture, specifically mastering Queen Anne lacquering. He arrived in New York in 1921 and continued to earn a living by applying lacquer decoration in a furniture factory. Beyond his painting, Usui was a custom frame maker, furniture designer, and lacquering craftsman. He also raised Siamese cats and collected antique Japanese swords and tea bowls.

His artistic output included social realist cityscapes, scenes of urban life, interiors, flower studies, and still lifes. His work was noted for its handling of color, textures, and space values. During the Great Depression, he joined the Federal Art Project. His status changed to "enemy alien" during World War II, a period during which he was subject to government surveillance. He eventually became a citizen and lived in Greenwich Village until his death in 1994.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Usui’s career included numerous exhibitions with the Society of Independent Artists and the Salons of America. He was a founding member of the artists' cooperative "An American Group" in 1931. His work has been featured in various collections and exhibitions, including:

Vraag en antwoord

Welke kunstwerken van Bumpei Usui worden het meest bekeken?

Er is een Statistieken-pagina voor Bumpei Usui, met statistieken over de kunstwerken van de kunstenaar op deze website.

Waar kan ik de kunstwerken van Bumpei Usui bekijken in een 3D-galerie?

De 3D-galerie van Bumpei Usui is een pagina waarop de kunstwerken van de kunstenaar worden gepresenteerd in een virtuele driedimensionale galerie.

Waar kan ik de kunstwerken van Bumpei Usui bekijken, gesorteerd op kleur?

Op de Sorteren op kleur-pagina zijn de kunstwerken van Bumpei Usui gesorteerd op kleur.

Hoe vind ik alle werken van Bumpei Usui per medium?

De pagina Alle technieken groepeert de kunstwerken van Bumpei Usui op techniek.

Zelftest

Er is slechts één goed antwoord op elke vraag.

Vraag 1:
In which city did Bumpei Usui learn English and make his first paintings while his brother worked as an art dealer?
Vraag 2:
What was the name of the art studio established by Usui at his apartment on West 14th Street?
Vraag 3:
Which organization did Usui join in 1935 to help him survive the loss of income caused by the Great Depression?
Vraag 4:
Besides being a painter, what was one of Usui's other professional occupations?
Vraag 5:
What type of animals did Usui breed to supplement his income?