Michihiro Kosuge
Portland sculptor, Michihiro Kosuge creates sculpture by manipulating granite into a range of forms. Influenced by his architectural roots, Kosuge builds the sculptures out of stacked forms creating architectonic silhouettes that transform into pyramid or tower shapes. The surfaces are thoughtfully honed, shaped and polished using drills, blowtorches, and grinding wheels. For this exhibition, the artist explores structural rather than gestural elements while still keeping a figural proportion. From his vast experience with public art projects, Kosuge has a unique ability to create sculptures that both define and complement the spaces they inhabit. In this series, the 3-dimensional forms not only define their surroundings they declare their presence, claiming their own space.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Michihiro Kosuge first studied architecture at the Tokyo Sumida Technical School of Architecture and then went on to receive his MFA in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1970. He began teaching art at Portland State University in 1978, becoming a full professor in 1989, and after serving three years as the Chair of the Art Department, retired in 2003. Exhibitions of his work include the Oakland Art Museum, the Portland Art Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Art, and the Seattle Art Museum. Major commissions include Kaiser Permanente Foundation, Vancouver, WA; the Little Tokyo Mall, Los Angeles; Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus; River Point Education Center, Spokane; and the Washington County Justice Center, Hillsboro, OR. Most recently, Kosuge is completing an extensive 3-part campus-wide commission for Highline Community College in Des Moines, WA.