Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) was born in Duluth, Minnesota, but made Japan his home after initially traveling there to work as a Lutheran missionary. Inspired by the traditional architecture of the Kansai, Karhu learned woodblock printmaking and traditional brush painting and adopted the kimono as his everyday wear. During his lifetime he carved and printed more than 1500 images, most depicting the Kyoto and Kanazawa where he spent most of his life. His style can be characterized by a bold usage of strong colors, which he attributed to his study with the Synchromist artist Stanton MacDonald Wright.
