Ishimoto Fujiwo Drawings 石本藤雄繪圖
Fujiwo Ishimoto is a Japanese-born textile designer and ceramic artist. Born in 1941 in Tobe, Ehime Prefecture, he entered the graphic design programme at the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1960. Starting in 1964, he worked for several years in advertising and graphic design at the textile trading company ICHIDA before leaving to embark on a world tour in 1970.
In 1964, Ishimoto attended the Finnish Design Exhibition held at the Shirokiya Department Store, where he first encountered the work of three leading figures from the golden age of Finnish design: Kaj Franck, Birger Kaipiainen, and Oiva Toikka. Inspired by this encounter, Ishimoto visited Finland during his world tour, eventually joining the Finnish design house Marimekko in 1974. In 1989, he also began creating ceramics, becoming a visiting artist at the Arabia Art Department in Helsinki. He retired from Marimekko in 2006, after which he returned to Japan to open a studio in Dogo, Ehime.
During his thirty-two years with Marimekko, Ishimoto designed approximately 400 textile patterns. He draws inspiration from nature and natural phenomena, pairing a restrained
visual language with lively surface textures and rich ornamentation. This collection consists of design sketches and drawings for the works Taiga (草原, 1978), Ostjakki (ロシアにいるフィン族のひとつ, 1983), Linnanpuisto (城の庭園, 1989), Ukonhattu (トリカブト, 1993), and Villi ja vapaa (おてんば, 1993). These materials document Ishimoto’s design process, showcasing the artist’s full-scale sketches, colour choices, and pattern elements prior to the final production of the designs.
The following items related to Ishimoto and his works are available to explore in the M+ Collections:
2018.250, 2018.251, 2018.252, 2018.253, 2018.254, 2018.255, 2018.256, 2018.257, 2018.258, 2018.259, 2018.260, 2018.261, 2018.262, 2018.263, 2018.264, 2018.265, 2018.266, 2018.267, 2018.268, 2018.269, 2018.270, 2018.271, 2018.272,
and 2018.282.
The Ishimoto Fujiwo Drawings collection was acquired by M+ in 2025. M+ is committed to preserving, organising, and describing the collection archives in keeping with the highest international standards. Additional information on this maker and his
works is also available at the Fujiwo Ishimoto Design Museum, Japan, website at https://fidm.jp .
Arranged chronologically by project.
Arranged chronologically by project.
In 1964, Ishimoto attended the Finnish Design Exhibition held at the Shirokiya Department Store, where he first encountered the work of three leading figures from the golden age of Finnish design: Kaj Franck, Birger Kaipiainen, and Oiva Toikka. Inspired by this encounter, Ishimoto visited Finland during his world tour, eventually joining the Finnish design house Marimekko in 1974. In 1989, he also began creating ceramics, becoming a visiting artist at the Arabia Art Department in Helsinki. He retired from Marimekko in 2006, after which he returned to Japan to open a studio in Dogo, Ehime.
During his thirty-two years with Marimekko, Ishimoto designed approximately 400 textile patterns. He draws inspiration from nature and natural phenomena, pairing a restrained
visual language with lively surface textures and rich ornamentation. This collection consists of design sketches and drawings for the works Taiga (草原, 1978), Ostjakki (ロシアにいるフィン族のひとつ, 1983), Linnanpuisto (城の庭園, 1989), Ukonhattu (トリカブト, 1993), and Villi ja vapaa (おてんば, 1993). These materials document Ishimoto’s design process, showcasing the artist’s full-scale sketches, colour choices, and pattern elements prior to the final production of the designs.
The following items related to Ishimoto and his works are available to explore in the M+ Collections:
2018.250, 2018.251, 2018.252, 2018.253, 2018.254, 2018.255, 2018.256, 2018.257, 2018.258, 2018.259, 2018.260, 2018.261, 2018.262, 2018.263, 2018.264, 2018.265, 2018.266, 2018.267, 2018.268, 2018.269, 2018.270, 2018.271, 2018.272,
and 2018.282.
The Ishimoto Fujiwo Drawings collection was acquired by M+ in 2025. M+ is committed to preserving, organising, and describing the collection archives in keeping with the highest international standards. Additional information on this maker and his
works is also available at the Fujiwo Ishimoto Design Museum, Japan, website at https://fidm.jp .
Arranged chronologically by project.
Arranged chronologically by project.
This archive is being catalogued. Information will be released periodically.
Details
Object Number
CA84
Archive Creator
Archival Level
Fonds
Date
1978–2003
Object Count
12 items
Credit Line
M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Ishimoto Fujiwo, 2025
Selected Bibliography
