Satoru Abe (born 13 June 1926) is a Japanese American sculptor and painter.
Biography
Abe was born in Moiliili, a district of Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended President William McKinley High School, where he took art lessons from Shirley Ximena Hopper Russell. After graduating from high school he worked for the Dairymen's Association. In 1947 he began taking art lessons from Hon Chew Hee and decided to pursue an art career in New York City. On his way to New York, in 1948, Abe spent a summer at the California School for Fine Arts. When he reached New York Abe attended the Art Students League of New York where he studied with Yasuo Kuniyoshi, George Grosz, Louis Bouche and Jon Corbino, N.A. (1905-1964). From 1948 to 1959, Abe traveled to New York regularly. He married Ruth, a fellow student from Wahiawa, and they returned to Hawaii in 1950 with their daughter Gail.
In Hawaii Abe met local artist Isami Doi, who would become a close friend and mentor. Although Abe began as a painter, he learned welding from Bumpei Akaji in 1951, and the two artists began a series of copper work experiments. During these few years in Hawaii, Abe also formed the Metcalf Chateau with Bumpei Akaji, Edmund Chung, Tetsuo Ochikubo, Jerry T. Okimoto, James Park, and Tadashi Sato. Their first group exhibition was in 1954.
In 1956, Abe returned to New York and found a creative home at the SculptureCenter, where his work attracted the attention of gallery owners and others. In 1963, Abe was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Abe returned to Hawai'i in 1970, and in the same year was offered a National Endowment for the Arts Artist in Resident grant.
Beliefs
Abe believes in reincarnation and this has influenced his work.
Works
Abe is best known for his sculptures of abstracted natural forms, many of which resemble trees, such as East and West in the collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum. He also painted. Two Abstract Figures in the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art typifies this aspect of his work. The Honolulu Museum of Art and the Hawaii State Art Museum are among the public collections that hold Abe's works. His sculptures in public places include: Three Rocks on a Hill, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1975 Among the Ruins, Leeward Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1973 Tree of Knowledge, Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Nanakuli, Hawaii, 1971 Enchanting Garden, President William McKinley High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1983 Three Clouds, Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1974 An Island of Trees, Honolulu International Airport, Diamond Head Extension, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1987 The Seed, Farrington High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1996 Reaching for the Sun, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1997 Early Spring, 'Aiea High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1976 A Community Surrounded by Sugar Cane, Kamiloa Elementary School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1978. Moon Beyond the Fence, Pearl City High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1981 Spring, Summer, Autumn, James B. Castle High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1980. Five Logs on a Hill, Kau High and Pahala Elementary School, Pahala, Hawaii, 1975 Landscape on the Ocean, Waiakea High School, Waiakea, Hawaii, 1983 Reaching for the Sun, Iao School, Wailuku, Hawaii, 1981 A Path Through the Trees, Maui High School, Kahului, Hawaii, 1977 Trees, Vines, Rocks, and Petroglyphs, Lanai Community School, Lanai City, Hawaii, 1976 Boulders, Salt Pond and Taro Fields, Eleele Elementary School, Eleele, Hawaii, 1989 Aged Tree, Kauikeaouli Hale, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1976 Untitled sculpture, Leilehua High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1976 Volcano, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1980 Growing Out From the Wheel, The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2006 Kukui ʻĀ Mau I Ke Ao Mālamalama (A Torch That Continues to Burn During the Day), Keoneʻae Skyline station, East Kapolei, Hawaii, 2021