"BLACK BROWN and BEIGE" (22" X 28" Inches)
Art/Jim Tanaka
Jazz Series #70 - Copyright 1984 - Printed in U.S.A.

Item is professional framed and sealed in excellent condition. Was acquired from the world famous "La Belle Galerie" New Orleans, Louisiana. Owned & operated by Jean Paul Pinel. HAND SIGNED IN PENCIL BY THE ARTIST.

"I've always been interested in jazz since I was in high school I guess. I didn’t play any instruments and I wasn’t in with a jazz group but I loved jazz and always went to jazz shows in New York, in the Village. And there I got to know the feeling of what jazz was about and I really enjoyed it." ~ Jim Tanaka

Jim Tanaka (1917-2008) was a Japanese-American artist, trained in Japanese wood block painting. Tanaka was imprisoned at a Japanese relocation camp during WWII. In 1935 at the age of 18 Jim began his career as an animator for Walt Disney Studios working on early features such as Fantasia and he retired in 1981 as Disney's Art Director for Merchandising, located in NYC. After retirement and at the age of 68 Jim moved to Oakland, CA and began another career in which he created and sold a series of 18 Tanaka Jazz Posters.

His personal Jazz Poster series has been extremely popular. 'Stompin at the Savoy' is a prime example. This out of print poster was published in 1990 and features one of Tanaka's well known Jazz images.

Jim Tanaka had numerous important exhibitions and honors during his lifetime. The University of Michigan Museum of Art houses 'Calligraphic Horse' an outstanding example of his work with pen and watercolour. Tanaka's works are also in the collections of The Revlon Corporation, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., Bergen, Pepsi Cola, Sotheby's Gallery and The Jazz Center in New York.