Michihiro Kosuge

(Japanese, born 1943, died 2021)

Artist and teacher Michihiro Kosuge (1943-2021) was known in the Northwest for his sculptures and public installations made with stone. His art explored the interaction of humans with nature and respected the natural world. He noted, "I never thought that I was a patient person... [working with] stone helped make me be patient."

Kosuge was born in Tokyo, Japan and studied sculpture at Tokyo Sumida Technical School of Architecture. At age 21, he came to the U.S. to study architecture. He explains that, "After taking several art courses to better understand shape and form, I found that making sculpture was a much better way to express my ideas and my way of thinking." Kosuge earned his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1970. He taught at Portland State University from 1978 until his retirement in 2003.