CCJ Prototype

Tanaami Keiichi (b. 1936, Tokyo) 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 ––his work was just as likely to be on a magazine cover as in an art exhibition. Now represented by NANZUKA, his career continues as originative as ever, with works recently exhibited at Walker Art Center, Museum of Modern Art (New York), Hamburger Bahnhof, and Tate Modern.