Clifton Karhu Art
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.”to
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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 Art
Materials
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 Gifu Gallery.
In hopes of providing their three children with an international education, Karhu settled in Kyoto in 1963. The next few years proved heavily influential in Karhu’s work. Arguably forming the foundation for all his future success, Karhu found tutelage under recognized woodblock artist and gallery owner Tetsuo Yamada and colour theorist Stanton Macdonald-Wright. Responsible for shifting Karhu’s artistic doubts, Karhu proceeded to fulfill a very successful career in woodblock printing - carving his own works largely by himself.
Clifton Karhu passed away in 2007 after an illustrious career that saw him viewed and celebrated as a local Kyoto celebrity, as well as having exhibited widely in many countries around the world. His woodblock prints have been collected by many famous museums including the Tokyo Modern Art...
Category
Late 20th Century Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Paper
Shrine, wood block print, Japan, yellow, brown, black, graphic, Karhu
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Shrine, wood block print, Japan, yellow, brown, black, graphic, Karhu
Category
1970s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Driftwood
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Teramachi-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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
Materials
Paper
Tahiti
By Clifton Karhu
Located in New York, NY
Signed, titled, and dated.
Color woodblock print.
Category
1960s Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Woodcut
Cake Shop, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, red, yellow, black, framed, Japan
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Cake Shop, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, red, yellow, black, framed, Japan
hand signed and numbered
Category
1990s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Paper
Koshihata Snow, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, white, Japan, framed, signed
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Koshihata Snow, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, white, Japan, framed, signed 1975
hand signed and numbered
Category
1970s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Paper
Shoji, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, round, framed, brown, white, yellow
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Shoji, woodblock print by Clifton Karhu, round, framed, brown, white, yellow
framed woodblock print
hand signed and numbered by the artist
Category
1990s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Paper
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Previously Available Items
"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 ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
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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 ...
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1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
Materials
Paper
H 14.75 in W 12.75 in D 0.5 in
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KARHU, CLIFTON (1927 - 2007 )
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1970s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
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Edo Sojourn, Japanese, Wood cut, limited edition print, red, orange, back, blue
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KARHU, CLIFTON (1927 - 2007 )
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1970s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
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Clifton Karhu Limited Edition Japanese Showa Woodblock Portraiture Print, 1966
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A whimsically designed and colored, woodblock portrait print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu...
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H 20.5 in W 16 in D 0.5 in
Clifton Karhu Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Hong Kong II, 1969
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A uniquely designed or shaped and colored woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gained great esteem not only ...
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1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
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Clifton Karhu Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Hong Kong I, 1969
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A uniquely designed/shaped and colored 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 ...
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1960s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
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Clifton Karhu Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Noren Ichiriki, 1969
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeously designed and colored 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...
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1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
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H 17.5 in W 34 in D 0.75 in
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Snow at Katsura
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeously designed and colored, exceptionally large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 5...
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1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Art
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Ashiya, Framed Woodcut by Clifton Karhu
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Clifton Karhu, American/Japanese (1927 - 2007)
Title: Ashiya
Year: 1978
Medium: Woodcut on Wove Paper, signed and dated in ink l.l.
Size: 7 x 9.5 inches
Frame Size: 17 x 19.5...
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1970s Contemporary Clifton Karhu Art
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Clifton Karhu art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Clifton Karhu art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Clifton Karhu in paper, driftwood, wood and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Clifton Karhu art, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of April Gornik, Hughie Lee-Smith, and Tony Bennett. Clifton Karhu art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,060 and tops out at $3,500, while the average work can sell for $3,500.









