Keiichi Tanaami

Tanaami Keiichi is an artist, graphic designer and animation filmmaker. While still a student at the Mushashino Art University, his career took off when he received a special selection award at the 1958 Japan Advertising Art Exhibition. He participated in the Animation Festival at Sogetsu Art Center in 1965 and 1966, after which his animation works frequently screened at international film festivals such as International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, New York Film Festival and Ottawa International Animation Festival. Tanaami became known as a leading figure of pop art and psychedelic art in Japan as his print-based, sculptural works and films grew increasingly popular in the 1960-70s. Designing record covers, posters, and taking on the role of Art Director for the Japanese edition of PLAYBOY in 1975, he often bridged commercial work and art practice ––it was just as likely to see his work on a magazine cover as an art exhibition. Now represented by NANZUKA, his career continues to be as prolific as ever with works exhibited recently at Walker Art Center, Museum of Modern Art (New York), Hamburger Bahnhof, and Tate Modern.

(Source: Collaborative Cataloging Japan)

Tanaami passed away on August 9, 2024 due to complications from myelodysplastic syndrome and a sudden subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was 88.