Clifton Karhu | Spencer Museum of Art

Spencer Museum of Art

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Place of Birth: Worthington, Minnesota, United States

Date of Birth: November 23, 1927

Place of Death: Kyoto, Japan

Date of Death: March 24, 2007

Works of Art: 35

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Karasuma Gate

Karasuma Gate, 1989, Showa period (1926–1989)

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Tatami Room

Tatami Room, 1981, Showa period (1926–1989)

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Rain in Kyoto

Rain in Kyoto, 1992

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Castle Gate

Castle Gate, 1998

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Shinbashi Rain Kyoto

Shinbashi Rain Kyoto, 1972

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Ichiriki Roofs

Ichiriki Roofs, 1997

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Bimi

Bimi, 2002

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Spring Lanterns

Spring Lanterns, 1996

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Gingko Trees in Nijo

Gingko Trees in Nijo, 2004

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Sono Villa

Sono Villa, 1999

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Garden View

Garden View, 2006

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Winter Driveway

Winter Driveway, 1978

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), Winter Pond Kyoto

Winter Pond Kyoto, 1971

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), colophon

colophon, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), essay

essay, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), An old pond a frog leaps in, the sound of water

An old pond a frog leaps in, the sound of water, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), A cloud of cherry blossoms; a temple bell, is it from Ueno, is it from Asakusa

A cloud of cherry blossoms; a temple bell, is it from Ueno, is it from Asakusa, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), An octopus trap and fleeting dreams under a summer moon

An octopus trap and fleeting dreams under a summer moon, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Wild sea and the milky way athwart the island of Sado

Wild sea and the milky way athwart the island of Sado, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Bright red sun cruelly hot but the wind is of autumn

Bright red sun cruelly hot but the wind is of autumn, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), On a journey ill, my dreams wander over the withered moor

On a journey ill, my dreams wander over the withered moor, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), The spring sea swelling and falling all the day

The spring sea swelling and falling all the day, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Departing spring hesitates in the late cherry blossoms

Departing spring hesitates in the late cherry blossoms, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Sun beams slant on the riverbank and cold rain falls from a floating cloud

Sun beams slant on the riverbank and cold rain falls from a floating cloud, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Demons sowing barley in the long rays of sunset

Demons sowing barley in the long rays of sunset, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Slow days piling up, how distant they seem, these past times

Slow days piling up, how distant they seem, these past times, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), On small islands also mean till the earth while larks sing above

On small islands also mean till the earth while larks sing above, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Naked in the rain riding a naked horse

Naked in the rain riding a naked horse, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Stony River rippling, lightning flickering

Stony River rippling, lightning flickering, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Oh flying butterfly I feel myself a creature of dust

Oh flying butterfly I feel myself a creature of dust, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), A train passes, how the smoke swirls round the young leaves

A train passes, how the smoke swirls round the young leaves, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), Cruel heat, my mind in a whirl, I listen to the thunder rumble

Cruel heat, my mind in a whirl, I listen to the thunder rumble, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), In the hand the fire fly makes a cold brilliance

In the hand the fire fly makes a cold brilliance, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), No matter what we wear, we are beautiful when moon viewing

No matter what we wear, we are beautiful when moon viewing, 1965–1967

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007); Stanton Macdonald-Wright (1890–1973), The sound of a cracked temple bell is also hot under a summer moon

The sound of a cracked temple bell is also hot under a summer moon, 1965–1967

Exhibitions: 5

Japan Re-imagined/Post-war Art

Kris Ercums, curator

2008

Brosseau Center for Learning: Mokuhanga

Yoonmi Nam, curator
Kate Meyer, curator

2024

Brosseau Center for Learning: In Conversation with the 2025–26 KU Common Book

Scott Barber, curator
Wyatt Haywood, curator
Suzanne Huffman, curator
Ellen Joo, curator
Luke Jordan, curator
Arial Kim, curator
Doug Bergstrom, curator
Susan Earle, curator
Sofía Galarza Liu, curator
Kevin Liu, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
Cara Nordengren, curator
Hana Rose North, curator
Liz Pfeiffer, curator
Sydney Pursel, curator
Rachel Straughn-Navarro, curator
Eli Troen, curator
Maggie Vaughn, curator

Brosseau Center for Learning: Winter Chill

2022

Looking After: Art and Care in Education Across Kansas (working title)

Kristina Walker, curator
Rachel Straughn-Navarro, curator

2026–2027