Aichi Triennale 2025

Miyamoto Saburo was born in 1905 in the Nomi district (now Komatsu City) of Ishikawa Prefecture. He studied under Fujishima Takeji and others at the Kawabata School of Painting and received guidance from Yasui Sotaro. While exhibiting his works primarily at the Nika Art Exhibition, Miyamoto was also active in creating magazine covers and illustrations. During World War II he traveled to locations such as the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, and Singapore as an official war artist, creating numerous paintings depicting Japanese military scenes alongside other artists that included Foujita Tsuguharu and Koiso Ryohei. After the war he cofounded Dai-Nikikai (art group) with Kumagai Morikazu, Masamune Tokusaburo, and other artists. As the chairman of Japan Artists Association, Inc., Miyamoto worked to enhance the social standing of artists while dedicating himself to fostering the next generation of artists by teaching at Kanazawa Technical School of Art (now Kanazawa College of Art) and Tama Art University.

Time line

1927

His work accepted for the first time at the 14th Nika Art Exhibition.

1942

Traveled to various parts of Southeast Asia to create war record paintings.

1947

Cofounded Dai-Nikikai.

1958

Appointed as the chairman of Japan Artists Association, Inc.

1966

Became a member of the Japan Art Academy.