George Sugimoto

George Sugimoto is a Japanese American artist whose work has been exhibited internationally. He has earned numerous awards and honors, including a fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation.

Sugimoto’s artworks are inspired by his experiences in concentration camps during World War II, and he often returns to these subjects after the conflict. His images capture much of the uncertainty and doubt he felt about life during camp life.

Early Life and Education

George Sugimoto was born in Wakayama, Japan on March 12, 1900 and immigrated to the United States as a young man, living with his parents in Hanford, California.

Sugimoto began painting as a young boy. He initially painted on pillowcases and mattress covers but soon moved onto more traditional art materials.

He painted scenes of concentration camps, depicting a time in his life when he felt an immense amount of anger and frustration about being detained. It became his mission as an artist to document and protest this injustice, which became the inspiration behind much of his artwork.

Today, Sugimoto’s work can be found in major museum collections worldwide and his influence continues to expand as younger artists study it. Additionally, he has ventured into architecture by designing restaurants and teahouses as well as spaces to exhibit his photography.

Professional Career

George Sugimoto was a California native who began his professional career as an electrical engineer. Ultimately, he founded his own business with one philosophy in mind: make a living while contributing to the community.

He takes great joy in playing golf and spends much of his free time out on the course. His children, Lisa and Nathan, praise his resilience, courage and entrepreneurial spirit as traits they most admire about their grandfather.

Sugimoto, a self-described artist, has exhibited around the globe and created works in multiple mediums. He photographs seascapes, theaters, forests, modernist architecture and waxwork dolls to create captivating works that play with perception.

Achievements and Honors

George Sugimoto is a well-known entrepreneur and major supporter of Japanese American community organizations. He founded KGS Electronics, an advanced airborne certified power conversion product manufacturer for civil and military aviation.

He is an accomplished artist, with his works featured in prominent museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and Serpentine Gallery in London.

These paintings by Sugimoto revisit themes he explored while in concentration camp, such as Issei mothers who prepared their sons for war by crafting a senninbari (a protective talisman made from cloth). A California landscape can also be seen throughout these artworks.

Personal Life

George Sugimoto demonstrated a deep dedication to family and community throughout his life. As an active member of the Nisei community, he served on numerous boards.

Sugimoto had an illustrious professional life. He pursued various artistic disciplines such as photography, art theory and architecture.

He began painting as a teenager. While studying art in Paris, he formed strong ties with the French artistic community.

Sugimoto eventually created a collection of approximately 100 oil paintings, watercolors and sketches which he displayed in Hanford and San Francisco. These pieces were heavily influenced by Cezanne and other French artists’ work; they were sensitive, meditative and often expressed Sugimoto’s anger over the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

Net Worth

George Sugimoto is the founder of KGS Electronics and an exemplary philanthropist who has had a profound effect on many lives. His business provides advanced airborne certified power conversion products to both civil and military aviation customers around the globe, but his passion for community involvement and generosity have contributed significantly to his net worth. Indeed, George takes great joy in giving away all his profits to various charities that support Asian American and Japanese American communities.

His lifetime of hard work and dedication have brought him success, but the value of family has always been at the core of everything he does. Even at 96 years old, you can still find him enjoying a sunny day on the golf course. His message to others: live life with integrity and passion; do what you can for others while keeping an eye on the long term.