Clifton Karhu Furniture
American, 1927-2007
Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Clifton Karhu was one of the most acclaimed American woodblock artists to work in Japan. Though the son of two painters and artistically inclined from an early age, Karhu joined the military. Stationed at the American Navy base in Sasebo from 1946 to 1948, he fell in love with Japan. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Minneapolis Art School (1950-1952) before returning to Japan in 1952, this time as a missionary of the Lutheran church. From Hiroshima to Kyoto, he and his wife sold bibles until he became disillusioned with the mission. Settling in Gifu prefecture, he returned to art, working in oils and watercolor. Karhu’s reputation grew swiftly, winning first prize at the Middle Pacific Art Group Exhibition, and held his first solo exhibition at Shin Gifu Gallery. In 1963, Karhu moved to Kyoto. Immersed in the city’s vibrant artistic community, he began a successful career in woodblock printmaking. His self-carved and self-printed works portray traditional style houses and architectural details. Deeply expressive, yet precise and geometric, Karhu's style earned him enormous popularity worldwide.When asked about his medium, he states: “In Kyoto the vertical and horizontal lines of the tile roofs and the latticed windows strike a special harmony, like something alive. In my prints of Kyoto, I always strive to express this human warmth. Since wood accounts for much of Kyoto’s beauty, it may also be the best way that beauty can be expressed - through woodblock prints.”(Biography provided by Glenn Green Galleries)
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Creator: Clifton Karhu
"Hong Kong Boats II" 1969 Woodblock Print by Clifton Karhu
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Hong Kong Boats II woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, 1969. #60/100, inscribed in pencil by the artist. American of Finnish heritage (1927-2007), Karhu settled in Japan after serving ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Rooftop in Kyoto
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, circular-shaped woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gained great esteem not only in Japan but ...
Category
1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Rooftop in Kyoto
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, circular-shaped woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gained great esteem not only in Japan but ...
Category
1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu " Chimoto 1968 " woodcut/woodblock print , signed pencil 22/50
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful woodcut/woodblock print by the well known , American/Japan artist Clifton Karhu , signed and dated in pencil . lower margen . The image / paper is approximate 10.75 X 9.5 i...
Category
1960s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu ‘House in Takaido’ Woodblock c1976 Japan
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Oakland, CA
Beautiful large scale woodblock by acclaimed artist, Clifton Karhu titled "House in Takaido" c1976. Beautifully double mat framed in metal. Karhu was based in Kyoto for most of his v...
Category
1970s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Metal
Rare 1971 Clifton Karhu Japanese Woodblock Print Titled "Winter Garden"
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Media, PA
A Finnish-American who lived and died in Japan, Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) devoted himself to the art of woodblock printmaking and is today considered one of the foremost masters of t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Clifton Karhu Original Color Woodblock, 1974, Koshihata Autumn
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This beautiful, limited edition original color woodblock is by the famous
Showa Shin Hanga woodblock master Clifton Karhu (1927-2007).
It bears the original frame and has a label on the back from a Tokyo gallery.
The work is a beautiful impression with rich color. It and the frame are in excellent condition.
The print measures 16 x 16 inches. The frame is 23 ½ x 23 ½ inches.
It is numbered lower left as AP5 - Artist Proof #5 and is pencil signed and dated ‘74 lower right.
An American of Finnish descent, Clifton Karhu was born in Minnesota in 1927. Raised together with his twin brother Raymond, Karhu was the son of painters Arne and Anna Karhu. After his graduation in 1946 he served in the military at an American Navy base in Japan.
Returning to America following his military service in 1950, Karhu enrolled at the Minneapolis School of Art but quit two years later to pursue missionary work as a Lutheran minister.
Karhu left the missionary work in 1958 and chose to move his new family to Gifu City, a small provincial town northwest of Kyoto, Japan where he set about returning to his art. Karhu soon found local success in 1961; obtaining first prize at the Chubu Taiheijo Bijutsu Kyokai Ten (The Middle Pacific Art Group Exhibition) and fixing his first single, professional exhibition at the Shin...
Category
Late 20th Century Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Rare 1971 Clifton Karhu Japanese Woodblock Print Titled "Karasuma Street, Kyoto"
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Media, PA
A Finnish-American who lived and died in Japan, Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) devoted himself to the art of woodblock printmaking and is today considered one of the foremost masters of t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print "Kamigano"
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gained great e...
Category
20th Century Japanese Showa Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Ed. Japanese Woodblock Print Karasuma Street, Kyoto
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
An absolutely stunning, large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gai...
Category
20th Century Japanese Showa Clifton Karhu Furniture
Materials
Paper
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Clifton Karhu furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Clifton Karhu furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Clifton Karhu furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Clifton Karhu were created in the mid-century modern style in japan during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Tadashi Nakayama, Shikou Munakata, and Kaoru Kawano. Prices for Clifton Karhu furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,800 and can go as high as $4,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,495.