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Seiji Saito
Sculpture: Carving in Stone and Wood

ÜThe diversity of expression in art today is partly a result of new technology. In the sculpture classes, for example, we now have a pneumatic tool system, which is aiding students with additional power. However, the traditional method of carving remains the foundation and is most important. Since I have joined the Art Students League as an instructor, I have met marvelous students from whom I have learned.¹

Mr. Saito was born in Utsunomiya, Japan. He received his B.F.A. studying drawing, clay modeling and wood carving with spirited sculptor, Professor Tsuruzo Ishii, at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His M.F.A. with a concentration in stone carving was also done at the University. Mr. Saitoäs superb technical training in both hand and machine carving techniques is based upon study with esteemed instructor Kametaro Akashi. Later, Mr. Saito came to the United States and received a scholarship to study at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. He also studied techniques of granite carving with master stonecarver, Odilio Beggi. Mr. Beggi encouraged him to create his Mother and Child in one-ton Vermont granite. He then directly carved it in three-ton Rourentian red granite from Canada, taking nineteen years.

Mr. Saitoäs work has ranged in style from abstract to realistic, in stone, wood and bronze. His early training of carving precise spheres and cubes developed skills used in carving for his lyrical and sensual stone female nudes.

The artist has exhibited widely for forty years. His works are in public, private and corporate collections internationally. Five of his works are in the Pepsi Company Inc. collection in Purchase, New York. Mr. Saito has received numerous awards for his work, including a major purchase prize at the First Kotaro Takamura Grand Prize Exhibition at the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan. He has been elected as a fellow of the National Sculpture Society while receiving four awards from them and major awards from the National Academy of Design. He maintains both carving and clay modelling studios in his Brooklyn loft building.