Tadasky

Japanese/American, 1935-Present

Tadasky, born Tadasuke Kuwayama, emerged in the 1960s as a defining voice in Optical and geometric abstraction. Born into a family of shrine builders in Nagoya, Japan, he trained in engineering before turning to art, eventually studying at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and settling in New York. His early works, meticulously painted concentric circles, reflect both his technical background and a deep interest in perceptual experience. Using self-designed tools, he achieved a remarkable precision that drew the attention of major collectors and institutions.

In 1964, the Museum of Modern Art acquired two of his paintings, with one featured in Life magazine’s landmark article on Op Art. He was included in MoMA's The Responsive Eye in 1965 and exhibited widely across the U.S. and Japan, including at the Kootz Gallery, Gutai Pinacotheca, and Albright-Knox.

Over time, Tadasky’s work softened from strict geometry into more atmospheric compositions, introducing painterly drips and diffused fields of color. Today, his paintings are held in major museum collections and prized by collectors for their synthesis of precision, light, and rhythm, rooted in both Japanese tradition and Western modernism. His legacy bridges two continents and continues to resonate with audiences attuned to both material discipline and spiritual nuance.