Untitled Abstracted figures with metal design clothing

Bumpei Akaji is known for his metal sculpture, but very few have ever seen his oil paintings.

This piece resembles Renaissance paintings like those of Raphael. Akaji was studying Italian Renaissance art even during the fighting at the end of WWII, as an American soldier stationed in Italy.

There is a Hawaii connection here as well. The figure on the right has a head shape that resembles a mahiole, a traditional Hawaiian woven helmet.

This painting is an incredible fusion of mid-century color and design, with subtle references to classical Renaissance themes woven throughout.

Notice how the crazing in the paint appears only in the robe areas of the figures—it’s intentional, as if to suggest hammered metalwork, foreshadowing Akaji’s later sculptures.

Bumpei Akaji (1921-2002) was an American sculptor born in Lawai on the island of Kauai. His passion for art remained unwavering throughout his life, even during his service in World War II. He was drafted into the 100th Infantry Battalion in 1943, and deployed to Italy, where he would make time to study paintings and sculptures despite the challenges of war. Initially a painter, Akaji became one of the first students to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. By the 1960s, however, he shifted focus to sculpture, using scrap metal to create his pieces. Akaji was also a member of the Metcalf Chateau, a collective of seven Asian-American artists with ties to Honolulu.