Sueo Serisawa

SUEO SERISAWA (1910-2004) Japanese American Modernist

Born in Yokohama, Japan on April 10, 1910 the son of artist Yoichi Serisawa. The family emigrated from Japan to Los Angeles in 1918 where his father continued his artistic career. The young Serisawa became involved in the California art scene perfecting his style. During his time in California he painted portraits of many Hollywood personalities including Judy Garland as well as still lifes and landscapes. Sueo Serisawa became known as one of the leading figures in the Los Angeles-based school of Modernism. Associated with the likes of Dan Lutz, Richard Haines, Millard Sheets, and Francis De Erdely, Sueo Serisawa helped position the West Coast as a fertile and revolutionary art center. An ambitious and talented artist, Serisawa exhibited in national shows and eventlually won international recognition and his works are highly sought after. Serisawa studied at Otis Art Institute and the Art Institute of Chicago. He became a painting instructor himself, teaching at Kahn Art Institute, Scripps College, and the Laguna Beach School of Art. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into the war, Serisawa as a Japanese immigrant, became fearful of forced internment on the West Coast. He and his family moved to New York City until 1947 when they were able to safely return to Los Angeles. Serisawa spent the rest of his life in California, teaching and painting right up until his death at age 94 in 2004.