John Koga

John Tanji Koga (b. 1964, Honolulu) is a sculptor and painter, now based on Hawaiʻi Island, whose abstract modernist work conveys serenity, balance, and space. He earned an MFA in ceramics and sculpture from the University of Hawaiʻi and studied sculpture in Pietrasanta, Italy, drawing influence from Isamu Noguchi, Satoru Abe, and Tadashi Sato.

Approach. Koga works to “share the beauty of natural elements, including stone, the ocean, and the sky,” moving fluidly between small paintings, large sculptures, and environmental installations. In Niu Systems, his work engages the inherited weight of objects — how things carry histories that exceed their surfaces. A mentor figure in Honolulu’s art community, he helped guide the art programming at ARS Cafe.

Selected works & recognition. Bodies of work in plaster, stone, and bronze, including pieces realized with Ralph Pucci International (NY/LA/Miami), and the Water is Life series. His work is held in the Honolulu Museum of Art, Halekulani, and Ward Village collections, and he has received awards from the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

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Instagram
Honolulu Museum of Art profile
Studio profile (Honolulu Magazine)
Feature (FLUX)