Katsura Funakoshi

He started carving in camphor wood in 1980. His works, usually depicting human figures from the waist up, have a great poetical effect, and are striking and distinctive. Funakoshi worked this material in a personal way and left visible both the grain of the wood and the marks of carving. The artist carefully utilised the grain for modelling and left part of the head unpainted, normally the crown. Funakoshi exhibited his work at the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale, the Documenta IX, and the Shanghai Biennale, and his work is represented in several art museums in Japan and other countries. Funakoshi died from lung cancer on 29 March 2024, at the age of 72.

Katsura Funakoshi studied at Tokyo University of the Arts. The recorded working language is Japanese. Places of work recorded in the authority are Tokyo. Employment is recorded with Tokyo Zokei University. Work by Katsura Funakoshi is recorded in the collections of Metropolitan Museum of Art and New Mexico Museum of Art. Distinctions recorded are Medal with Purple Ribbon.

• Native Name — 舟越 桂 • Born — 25 May 1951 • Birthplace — Morioka, Iwate, Japan • Died — 29 March 2024 • Place of death — Morioka, Iwate, Japan • Education — Tokyo University of the Arts • Occupation — Sculptor • Father — Yasutake Funakoshi 25 May 1951 – 29 March 2024 was a Japanese sculptor.