About the Artist

Kim Frank Fujiwara was born and raised on the northwest side of Detroit, Michigan. By first grade he was already in advanced art classes mentored by his art teacher. He was known as “the kid who draws.” He says his influences were Marvel comic books (John Buscema), psychedelic rock posters, Creepy (Frank Frazetta) and Mad magazines (Mort Drucker, Jack Davis). He did hallway art and special assignments for grade school and high school. He took second place in the state for the American Legion Poppy Poster contest in the 11th grade. He was determined to make art as a career and in 1975 he enrolled at the prestigious art school Center for Creative Studies/College of Art and Design (CCS) in Detroit. Some influences and inspirations during this time were Michaelangelo, and American artists, (Bernie Fuchs, Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish) and French Impressionism. After graduating CCS in 1979, Kim worked at major art studios around the Detroit area and by the mid 80’s he was an instructor at CCS for 5 years teaching Illustration, Figure Illustration, and Illustration Techniques. In 1992, Kim started his own studio, Fujiwara Art, Inc. where he specialized in portraits, illustration, and commissioned art. 

“As a professional Art Appraiser and Auctioneer for over 40 years, I can say unequivocally (that) your art work is of the highest caliber!” -Neil Fogel

 Mentorship:

“The education I received from Kim was beyond what my schooling could’ve ever entertained. Kim’s teachings were invaluable, and I now share them with my students, as I teach young artists.” -Michael Hintze / Art Instructor

Kim’s artwork and portraits have appeared on national ads, book covers, magazine covers, CD covers, posters, annual reports, point-of-purchase, and children’s books.  Several of his portraits (over 25) have decorated the walls at the prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills and watercolor works include over 100 portrait montages for Ford Motor Company’s NADA awards "Salute to Dealers" which can be viewed at world headquarters in Dearborn. Kim has worked on several campaigns for Valvoline Oil Co. and Utica Enterprises as well. Portraits of celebrities have included, Arnold Palmer, Isiah Thomas, Jack Nicklaus, Henry Ford, George Kell, Ben Wright, Al Unser Jr., Hillary Clinton for the Washington Post, and a limited-edition print of Shaquille O’Neal. In 2003 Kim created a series of  'Fujiwara Art' limited wine labels of Michigan for Cherry Creek Cellars. His work appears in several Native American children’s books including; Carlos Montezuma, Ishi, also Science Adventures/ Whales, and Italian Portraits.  In 2013 "My Name is Leona' was awarded Gold Medal from Mom's Choice Awards. In 2014, Kim was commissioned to do mural size artwork for the remodeled restaurant, J. Baldwin’s in Clinton Township. In 2019 , Kim was awarded 'Best of Detroit Fine Artist '/ Hour Magazine in which he was commissioned cover art, portrait of Aretha Franklin.  Western artworks have appeared in Wild West magazine and Western Art Collector's.

Keeping Art Alive:
“I became aware of Kim’s great talent in the 1980’s. He is a legend. His home studio which is like a throwback to the great painters of the past. Using social media to share his talent, he is keeping it alive, not only here in Metro Detroit, but around the world. His talent and experience and has done a great deal to encourage artists, young and old to pursue their passions. And we all need that now more than ever.”

-Jim Harper / Host WNIC/MAGIC Radio

Western Art Collector:
“I have a number of Native American paintings. I purchased all of them Out West with the exception of Kim’s. I went to the ‘Our Town’ event (Birmingham) and saw his art across the room. The colors are brilliant and the scene is incredibly realistic. Liz DuMouchelle, who chaired that year’s event suggested it was one of the best she had ever seen at the event.” -Rebecca Sorensen 

On The American West:

“From composition to lighting and color, models to wardrobe, weather and moods to earth and sky, historical to romantic, guns to horses, research to finished art, ‘The American West’ has everything you need to fuel the soul and utilize my skills at the same time. Art is a lifetime process of learning and passion.”-kf

Besides watching western TV shows and western movies during the 1960’s, his inspiration of The American West actually started in 1990 after being commissioned to illustrate four children’s books for Raintree Steck-Vaughn publishers. Two of the books were titled, “Carlos Montezuma and Ishi”, both Native American biographies. All pencil sketches were to be approved by a Smithsonian associate who worked with the publisher on historical subjects.
After the books were published, friends and family who lived out west said they saw the books in many stores. Hollywood even made a movie about Ishi; “The Last of His Tribe” starring John Voight and Graham Greene. Kim and his wife made several trips to Arizona where they visited many towns and cities with art galleries. Other visits included Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2012, Kim started his series of paintings depicting The American West. In 2019 -2020 Kim's artwork has appeared in Wild West magazine. Kim’s goal is to have another studio out west to paint and live it. 

On Portraits: 

"A painted portrait is the joining of two souls, the subject and the artist."~kf

"As a kid I remember the enjoyment of seeing Hollywood stars in Bugs Bunny cartoons, like Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. I would also enjoy the movie caricatures in Mad Magazine illustrated by Mort Drucker. This would inspire me to understand the subtle differences in faces of celebrities. I remember doing pencil sketches of Hollywood stars by memory, like Humphrey Bogart, Christopher Lee as Dracula, Boris Karloff, Richard M. Nixon, Elvis Presley, and Clint Eastwood. I recall being fascinated watching The Watergate Hearings on the television. Everyday after school, I would sit right in front of the T.V. and sketch portraits of John Dean, John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman, and John Mitchell."

“At my first job, I was a 16-year-old busboy at a Chinese restaurant and when it was slow at work, I would do pencil portraits of the waitresses. My first portrait commission came from a customer who saw my portraits and asked me to do one of him and his wife from a not-so-good photograph for thirty dollars. It was also my first experience of a client, who after a few rounds of changes and critiques finally accepted it and paid cash. I realized during the process of rendering a portrait, I have absorbed the person’s personality, soul and spirit, even if sometimes I never meet them. It‘s always a great pleasure and emotional experience to hear and see the reactions from the client.”

On La Belle Femme: 

 
"There's nothing more beautiful than a beautiful woman." ~ kf

“My Muse: During the late 1930’s, My Mom use to be a dancer at a top night club in San Francisco (Andy Wong‘s Skyroom with The Wongettes) and later years a Detroit model. She once said, ‘I paint a face everyday.’ She was referring to her time spent doing her makeup before going to work as a hostess at Chin Tiki restaurant in Detroit or doing a modeling session. I would watch as she would put on her base color, eyebrows, eyelashes, lips, hair piece and even enhance her mole. On her dresser where she did her makeup was also a charcoal portrait of her. She said some artist did that of her back in California. I would simultaneously stare at the portrait and watch her as she did her makeup. I would also watch old movies and musicals with her and enjoy her comments and reasons why the actresses were so beautiful."

"When I was in high school I did a large pencil drawing of Marilyn Monroe similar to one shown here. From then on, whenever I am doodling on a cocktail napkin or a piece of paper, it would be a woman’s face. When I see a beautiful woman, I always imagine what a great painting she would be."
“La Belle Femme is a variety of women doing different things in different settings. This is a wide open never-ending approach for me in creating romantic images with casting the right model for the next painting.”

AWARDS/ EVENTS / EXHIBIT

•2026  ROMEO GUILD OF ART AWARD / PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 

•2025 56TH WESTERN ART SHOW AND SALE / MOUNTAIN OYSTER CLUB , AZ

•2025 GREAT NORTHERN ART EXPLOSION / AUSABLE ART VILLAGE 

•2025 COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES ALUMNI SHOW

•2023 ROMEO GUILD OF ART AWARD / STARKWEATHER ARTS CENTER
•2023 SOLO ART AUCTION / HOUR-SAVOR DINNERS 

•2023 94TH MICHIGAN CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION / MUSKEGON ART MUSEUM
•2022 BEST VISUAL ARTIST / HOUR BEST OF DETROIT
•2022 BEST OF DETROIT PARTY / THE FILLMORE
•2019 BEST FINE ARTIST / HOUR BEST OF DETROIT
•2019 ALUMNI EXHIBIT / COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES

•2018 57TH ANNUAL GREATER MICHIGAN ART EXHIBITION / MIDLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS
•2018 SILVER AWARD / OUR TOWN ART SHOW & SALE / BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE
•2018 1ST PLACE / MI GREAT ARTIST COMPETITION / OAKLAND COUNTY & PARK WEST GALLERY
•2018 1ST PLACE AWARD / RAY AND NANCY LOESCHNER ART COMPETITION / MEIJER GARDENS COLLECTION

•2018 58TH ANNUAL THUMB AREA ARTISTS EXHIBITION / ROMEO 

•2017 36TH ANNUAL MICHIGAN FINE ARTS COMPETITION / BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER
•2016 SOLO EXHIBIT / THE ART OF CUSTOM FRAMING / TROY 
•2014 1ST PLACE AWARD / HURON VALLEY COUNCIL FOR THE ART
•2014 1ST PLACE AWARD / DANCE ART COMPETITION / FOCUS POINT SHAPE INTERNATIONAL ART GALLERY
•2014 SOLO EXHIBIT / OAKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUILDING
•2014 TOP FINALIST / MI GREAT ARTIST COMPETITION / OAKLAND COUNTY & PARK WEST GALLERY

•2014 BOLD BRUSH / FAV 15%
•2013 1ST PLACE AWARD / HURON VALLEY COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
•2013 SOLO EXHIBIT / OAKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUILDING
•2013 TOP FINALIST / MI GREAT ARTIST COMPETITION / OAKLAND COUNTY & PARK WEST GALLERY
•2013 GOLD MEDAL MOM’S CHOICE AWARD / “MY NAME IS LEONA” CHILDREN’S BOOK

•2013 BOLD BRUSH / FAV 15%
•2012 TOP FINALIST / MI GREAT ARTIST COMPETITION / OAKLAND COUNTY & PARK WEST GALLERY
•2012 AUCTION / CELEBRITIES AGAINST AUTISM
•2012 ARTPRIZE / GRAND RAPIDS MI
•2011 MERIT AWARD / ALFRED BERKOWITZ GALLERY / DEARBORN
•2009 GALLERY SPOT / OVATIONTV
•2004 MERIT AWARD / PORTFOLIOS.COM
•2001 RED RIBBON AWARD / OUR TOWN ART SHOW & SALE / BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE
•1993 CERTIFICATE / SCARAB CLUB ADVERTISING ART EXHIBIT
•1989 2ND PLACE / SCARAB CLUB ADVERTISING ART EXHIBIT
•1988 2ND PLACE / SCARAB CLUB ADVERTISING ART EXHIBIT
•1987 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION FACULTY EXHIBIT / CENTER FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
•1986 1ST PLACE / SCARAB CLUB ADVERTISING ART EXHIBIT
•1974 2ND PLACE / AMERICAN LEGION POPPY POSTER / MICHIGAN

Kim continues to work on his fine art series out of his home studio in Rochester Hills and  accepts commissioned art and portrait work. 

You may visit studio Mon -Sat 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
(by appointment only)

SELF-PORTRAIT 1984/2021

Member - Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHLlQNEg0k