Setsuko

Setsuko Klossowska de Rola works across various mediums, such as bronze, ceramics, and gouache. She renders serene subjects with textured surfaces, intertwining natural and constructed elements. Her art represents the harmony between life and death, growth and decay. 

Biography of Setsuko

Born in 1942 in Tokyo, Setsuko Klossowska de Rola (born Setsuko Ideta) pursued her education at the Jesuit-run Sophia University in Tokyo, where she learned about Eastern and Western cultures from Japanese calligraphy and Noh theater to European literature and ballet. Moving to Rome in 1962, she embarked on her painting journey, primarily focusing on gouache and watercolor.

During her university years, she crossed paths with the painter Balthus. They married in 1967 and resided together at the Villa Medici, where Balthus served as the director of the French Academy in Rome. In 1968, their son Fumio was born but tragically passed away at the age of two and a half. Their daughter, Harumi, was born in 1973.

In 1977, Setsuko and Balthus departed from the French Academy and settled in Le Grand Chalet in Rossinière, Switzerland, where she has since lived and worked alongside her residence in Paris. Her artistic career flourished, with her first solo exhibition taking place in 1979 at Galleria Il Gabbiano in Rome. She later exhibited her work at esteemed galleries such as the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York and the Lefevre Gallery in London.

Recognized for her contributions, Setsuko was honored as UNESCO's Artist for Peace in 2005. This designation was bestowed upon her in acknowledgment of her continuous efforts in promoting education, fostering intercultural dialogue, and advocating for the preservation of global heritage.

Setsuko's Art Style

Setsuko adeptly fused Eastern aesthetic traditions with Western modernism in her artworks. Her refined still lifes and domestic interiors reflect her keen observation of everyday objects and living beings, such as flower arrangements, plants, and resting cats.

Setsuko's fascination with varied surfaces and the expressive nature of clay sparked her interest in ceramics. Crafted from terra-cotta and adorned with white enamel glaze, her sculptures of trees and vines feature intricate textures that highlight their grounded strength and the vibrant energy of their growth. These pieces, reminiscent of Japanese ceramics dating back to the Jōmon earthenware period (c. 10,500–300 BCE), also reflect influences from European aesthetic traditions.