About the Artist

(Born 1940) Moving to Berlin in 1966 signaled the artist's metamorphosis from graphic designer to fine art artist.  Nagaoka began with a class taught by Jurgen Spohn at the State Academy for Graphics, Print and Advertising in Berlin.  Later he studied etching with Louise Kohnke-Duwell followed by a class taught by Gerhard Bergmann at the Berlin University.

Following experimentation, Nagaoka determines that etching represents his appropriate medium.  For months he studied the prints of Seghers, Rembrandt and Goya at the Print Collection of the State Museums in Berlin-Bahlem. For whole semesters he only polishes plates and files bevels.

Initially he prints using just black and white.  His introduction of color is extremely limited.  His choice of paper is entirely intentional, as he hold a respectful affection for the substrate on which he prints.  

Nagaoka's subject matter positions architectural bunkers into landscapes, as though they are at war with one another, referencing natural erosion in the depiction of the differences in texture.

Nagaoka Etchings 1971-1981 was published in 1982 in an edition of 3000.