KENRO IZU

1949
Born in Osaka, JAPAN

1969-70
Studied at Nihon University, College of Arts, TOKYO

1970
Moved to New York City

1974
Established Kenro Izu Studio in New York. Start working in commercial photography, specialized in Jewelry and small precious objects.

1979
The first visit to Egypt, and impressed deeply with the sacred sites, made with massive stones and its sense of impermanence. The experience motivated him to start the series of "Sacred Places" of the world.

1983
Witnessed a beauty and intense rendering of atmosphere, produced by contact-printed Platinum/Palladium print by Paul Strand, he decided to proceed the medium to document a series of "Sacred Places" and obtained a Deardorff custom made camera which produce 14 inch by 20 inch negative.

1984
The 3rd trip to Egypt with the 14"x20" camera, and the result of images convinced him to continue his all photography by this method. Since then, he traveled and photographed repeatedly to the sacred sites of England, Scotland, France, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and USA. In this year, using the 14"x20" camera, start photographing floral studies titled "Still Life".

1993
The first visit to Angkor monuments in Cambodia, and deeply inspired of the mortality of all. In the same time he was inspired of the preciousness of all life form at ruined temples of Angkor. From the experiences of Angkor, he was motivated in sacred sites of Asia, and start traveling and photographed; Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Syria, Jordan, Burma and China. This year, the first photography of human body study as a part of the series; "Still Life" started.

2013
Documentary photography series of “Eternal Light” in India started. The life of people In 3 holly cities along the river Yamuna and Ganges are photographed.

〈Selected Solo Exhibitions After 2010〉

2010
BHUTAN sacred within, Fitchburg Museum of Art, Fitchburg, MA
BHUTAN sacred within, Gallerie Thierry Marlat, Paris, France
Kenro Izu 30 years retrospective, Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, MA
Kenro Izu, Birgit Filtzmaier Fine Photography, Zurich, Switzerland
INDIA: Kenro Izu, Pershiel & Heine, Hamburg, Germany

2011
Passage through Asia, Lucca Photo Fest, Italy

2012
Kenro Izu Blue, Forma Galleria, Milano, Italy
Sacred Places, In Camera Galerie, Paris, France
Passage to Angkor, Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll garden, North Salem, New York
Yin, Sarindia Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

2013
INDIA-Where Prayer Echoes, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, NY

2014
Territories of the Soul, Fondazione Fotografia Modena, Italy
Taiwan Photo Fair “Platinum Prints”, Organized by 1839 Contemporary Gallery,
Shinkong Mitsukoshi, Taipei, Taiwan
Still Life, In Camera Galerie, Paris, France

2015
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris


〈Awards〉

1983
Fellowship from Woodstock Photography Center, NY

1984
National Endowment for Arts, Washington D.C.

1985
New York Foundation for Arts, NY

2000
Cultural Award by Japan Photographic Society, Japan Lou Stouman Award, CA

2002
Guggenheim Fellowship, NY

2005
Vision Award by Center for Photography of Art, Woodstock, NY

2007
Visionary Award by Lucie Awards
Pacesetter Award by New York Hospital, Queens, NY

2011
Lucca Photo Award, Lucca Photo Fest, Italy

2014
Health Award by World of Children, CA

〈PUBLICATIONS〉

Territories of the Soul
Skira / Fondazione Fotografia Modena (2014)

BLUE, six by six book
Nazraeli Press (2012)

Kenro Izu : A Thirty Year Retrospective
Nazraeli Press (2009)

BHUTAN sacred within
Nazraeli Press (2007)

KENRO IZU: BLUE
Howard Greenberg Gallery (2004)

PASSAGE TO ANGKOR
Channel Photographic (2003)

SACRED PLACES
ARENA Editions (2001)

LIGHT OVER SACRED PLACES OF ASIA
K'MoPA (2001)

KENRO IZU: STILL LIFE
ARENA Editions (1998)

LIGHT OVER ANCIENT ANGKOR
K'MoPA and Friends Without A Border (1996)

KENRO IZU
Howard Greenberg Gallery (1994)

"Eternal Light” EL 43#8 2013 Gelatin Silver Print ©Kenro Izu

"Eternal Light” EL 412#12 2013 Gelatin Silver Print ©Kenro Izu