Ambo Makoto Biography

1962・Born in Saroma, Hokkaido. Moved to Chitose City at an early age.

・Deeply interested in the indigenous Ainu culture.

1981・Entered the Graphic Design Department at the Hokkaido Institute of Design (graduated in 1983).

1993・Discovered a new sumi-e technique. A unique technique that had never been seen before.

Signed a two-year contract with POLO B.C.S Sapporo and was in charge of designing logos and

cut-and-sew clothing.

1995・Received the Japanese Calligraphy Criticism Master's degree.

1996・Introduced on NHK TV as "New Japanese Sumi-e." After that, he worked as a sumi-e artist.

Using Japanese paper and ink, he expressed Japanese beauty such as dragons, peonies, and

cranes with his own unique technique. As a homage to Ainu culture, he also painted works themed

on  environmental protection, such as forest creatures such as owls.

2018・Published a work based on his beloved cat MOMOCO. The theme is "Zero euthanasia of

cats and dogs". The group works with companies to help rescued cats and dogs.

2020・First exhibited at the 230th Le Salon, the world's oldest and largest public exhibition with a history

of about 400 years. Received the "Forest Beat 90cm x 90cm/NIJIMI-GA®・MENTION" from

the French Artists Association.

2022・Received the "16th JCAT GALLERY Award" from New York-based JCAT.

・New Sumie techniques NIJIMI-GA® trademark registered. [NIJIMI-GA®] is listed on Wikipedia.

2023・Received the "COLLECTORS ART PRIZE WINNER" from CAC Contemporary Art Collectors

 in Spain in recognition of his convincing art.

・Received the "Artistic Career Award STAR" from the Italian Effetto Foundation.

・The undershirt of Samurai Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama, who led the team to victory in the

WBC World Baseball Classic, featured the "Owl of Happiness" designed by Ambo Makoto, who shared the glory with him.

2024・Selected as one of the "Top Contemporary Artists to Watch in 2024" by

Contemporary Art Curator magazine.

・Received the "International Botticelli Award" and "Art Ambassador" from the Effeto Arte Foundation in Italy for his research and overall artistic achievements in art and historical value.

・Received the Global Art Virtuoso "Elite Artistic Career Achievement Award" from CAC Contemporary Art Collectors in Spain.

・Received the "International Leonardo da Vinci Special Gold Award" from the Effeto Art Foundation in Italy.

・Received the "Van Gogh Tribute Art Award" from ICM International Cultural Management in Spain for his original creativity.

・Received the "Van Gogh Tribute Art Award" from the Costanza Foundation in Italy for his many years of work in enhancing the historical value of art. In recognition of his achievements in bringing innovation and limitless possibilities to the global art world through his art, Ambo Makoto was awarded the prestigious Academy Award for Creativity and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Techniques and Characteristics of Bleed Pictures

※    Depth and solidity can be depicted by repeating this process over and over after drying.

Makoto Ambo’s innovative, unique bleeding technique is completely different from traditional wet-in-wet drawing methods. Generally, bleeding refers to how water or ink seeps into textiles, whereas Ambo creates bleeding within individual drops of water and then lets the ink settle and affix to the paper. However, the most significant difference that distinguishes his work is that it embraces a time-consuming, repetitive process with multiple layers of bleeding. This unique process creates shadows and sense of solidity even as it maintains transparency, which all contradict traditional Japanese black-ink drawings. This feature forms the essence of Makoto Ambo’s deep, mysterious world of black and white. In addition, even though it is a bleeding technique, delicate details are expressed so clearly and sharply that his works are often mistaken for prints. Makoto Ambo’s bleeding works of art are thus truly unique and unrivaled by any other type of black-ink drawing.

                                                Mitsuhiro Kondo

                                                Art Writer