Kumi Sugai ’ Balle et Balle ’

Title: “Balle e Balle” – Original Signed Lithograph by Kumi Sugaï, 1970 – Edition 52/100

Dimensions : Height : 62 cm (24.4 in) x Width : 50 cm (19.7 in)

Description :

Step into the world of bold geometry and captivating abstraction with “Balle e Balle,” a 1970 original color lithograph by renowned Japanese artist Kumi Sugaï (1919–1996). This striking piece, numbered 52/100, is hand-signed by the artist in pencil and exemplifies Sugaï’s unique visual language—one that blends the rigor of Japanese calligraphy with the kinetic energy of modern European abstraction.

A master of visual tension, Sugaï plays with vibrant color blocking—crimson red and cobalt blue orbs—interrupted by a diagonal black-and-white striped column, all set within hypnotic frameworks of fine parallel lines. The result is both architectural and rhythmic, offering a minimalist yet powerful graphic presence that resonates with collectors of 20th-century design and art.

Artist Bio :

Kumi Sugaï was a key figure in the post-war Parisian avant-garde, moving from Japan to France in 1952. Initially influenced by calligraphy and traditional Japanese aesthetics, he evolved into a pioneer of geometric abstraction. His work, often associated with Op Art, Zero movement, and concrete art, has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, documenta, and in leading institutions such as the Centre Pompidou and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Condition :

This print is in excellent vintage condition with full margins. Crisp colors, strong impression, and clean paper edges—ready for framing.

Cost of insured transport to the US is Euro 125.

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Colors may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or your monitor settings.

Kumi Sugai was a Japanese painter. Best known for his Minimalist and Hard Edge geometric abstractions, Sugai was influenced by the relationships between Japanese calligraphy and Western typography. His paintings often featured a singular, centrally placed shape and a highly graphic aesthetic. Born in Kobe, Japan on March 13, 1919, he developed an interest in art a young age, initially enrolling at the Osaka School of Fine Arts in 1933 and later dropping out to work in commercial advertising during the Second World War. By 1952, Sugai settled in Paris, where he studied at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere and absorbed contemporary Western painting styles, including Abstract Expressionism and, later, Minimalism and Pop Art. At first, Sugai adopted traditional ukiyo-e woodblock techniques, using bright colors to create prints infused with avant-garde art influences. In the 1960s, however, he transitioned into painting and printing more geometric images of letters and directional signs. Before his death on May 14, 1996 in Kobe, Japan, Sugai achieved international success, participating in the Pittsburgh International five times between 1955 and 1970, and holding a major retrospective of his work at the Seibu Museum of Art in Tokyo in 1983.