Nishijima, Takeshi

Japanese, 1929–2003

BiographyNishijima Takeshi was born into a family of cloth dyers in Kyoto. As a student of textile arts at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, he studied with Inagaki Toshijirō (1902-63). Nishijima also furthered his education through the study of dyeing technology, gaining knowledge of colorants, dye chemistry and industrial production.

Both a graphic and textile artist, Nishijima worked in a style that is both naturalistic and narrative from a very Japanese point of view and he participated in many exhibitions, winning numerous awards. Nishijima’s artistic works won the hearts of many devotees of the folk art movement, who admired his novel compositions and clear colors.

Nishijima became an instructor at Ikenobo College in Kyoto and at his alma mater, the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts. He taught katazome design, dyeing crafts and traditional design and had many devoted students and followers. Shortly after becoming a professor emeritus in 1995, Nishijima was awarded the Kyoto Prefecture Culture Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award.