Takako Saito

• Category
  Textiles
• Techniques
  Stencil dyeing
• Born
  1942 -
• Based in
  Kanagawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Chairman of Japan Kogei Association East Japan Branch, Kanagawa Workshop
  President of Saito Takako Kata-ezome Workshop

Style

Expressing the delicate senses of the seasons in Japan in kimonos and obi saches using kata-ezome* stencil dyeing techniques with plants and flowers as motifs. The whole process of producing the kimono is done by the artist herself, from designing and carving the stencils to fitting the kimono, to maintain designs with high creativity and originality.

*Kata-ezome: A stencil dyeing method. Compared to traditional stencil dyeing, the stencils produced by the artist are more picturesque and unique.

Biography

• 1965
  Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Crafts
  Worked at a textile dyeing studio for 5 years
• 1970
  Started to work as an artist
  Held group exhibitions and solo exhibitions at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery
• 1980
  Submits artwork to various public entry exhibitions held by the Japan Kogei Association while teaching at Otsuka Textile Technical School (current Waseda International Business College Textile Design Course), Bunka Gakuen University, and Tokyo University of the Arts. (2008)
• 1989
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 2005
  Starts the Saito Takako Kata-ezome Workshop and continues to lead the workshop up to today

Awards

• 1998
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 32nd Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Chrysanthemum Field"
• 2003
  Received the East Japan Branch Award at the 43rd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Flower Garden"
• 2006
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 40th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Perfect Day for Plum Blossoms"
• 2007
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman's Award at the 41st Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Spring Poem"
• 2008
  Received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the 42nd Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Around the Beginning of Summer"
• 2010
  Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 44th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Silk Tree Blossoms"
• 2021
  Received the Daimaru Matsuzakaya Award at the 55th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Kimono with design in stencil-resist picture dyeing "Japanese Thistles"
• 2024
  The 58th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition Incentive Award / Mitsukoshi Isetan Award