Professional Experience
1995 – present: Painter
1985 – present: Jazz Violinist
1980 – 1995: Artist and Illustrator
1974 – 1980: Art Director, CTV, Toronto
1973 – 1974: Art Director, Global TV, Toronto
1971 – 1973: Art Director, City TV, Toronto
Education
1964: B.A. (Economics) University of Musashi, Tokyo, Japan
Grants
2018: Canada Council for the Arts: “Kyushu Nights” Jazz Tour in Japan with Neil Swainson, Jan./Feb.
OAC Exhibition Assistance Grant, Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Milton for Exhibition “Painting beyond Limitations” with Seitaro Kuroda at Tsunagi Art Museum in Kumamoto, Japan
2015/16: Ontario Arts Council: Quebec / Ontario Exchange Grant “On the Trail of Krieghoff”, residency.
2014: Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance Grant: Art Gallery of Northumberland.
Publications
2018: “ Live Tomorrow, Not Yesterday” Auto-biography of San Murata, published by Kajikasha Co. Ltd., Kumamoto, Japan.
1990: “Boy and One Dollar” Children’s Book, Oxford University Press, Toronto.
1972: “Plato & Company” Children’s Book, Annick Press, Toronto.
Solo Exhibitions
2019: “Inuit Fine Art” Gallery, Port Hope Ontario, Exhibition August 17 to September 1, 2019.
“Ontario & Quebec: Living for Landscapes”, Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Minden, Ontario
May 30 to July 6, Public Gallery, Solo Invitational, Opening Friday, May 31 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
“Gunjo Gallery” Solo Exhibition, Kurume, Fukuoka Province, Japan, February.
2018: “ Painting Beyond Limitations”: Tsunagi Art Museum, Kumamoto / April 28 – July 16,2018 / Exhibition with Artists San Murata & Seitaro Kuroda/ Public Art Museum, Curated Exhibition.
2017: Motokawa Art Gallery, Kumamoto, Japan (February), also 2016, 2015 and 2014.
Hamaya Department Store Art Gallery, Nagasaki, Japan (March)
2016: San Murata Studio Show
Chritstensen Gallery, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Tsutaya-Ya Bookstore, (presented by Motokawa Art Gallery), Kumamoto, Japan
2015: Engine Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
AH! Arts & Heritage Centre, Warkworth, Ontario, Canada
2014: Bahia Studio, Kumamoto, Japan also 2013.
2013: Spazio Dell’Arte, Toronto, Canada, also 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
2012: Gunjo Gallery, Kurume, Japan, also 2011 and 2010.
2011: Oeno Gallery, Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada also 2010, 2008 and 2007
2009: Colborne Art Gallery, Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Yamagata-Ya Department Store Art Gallery, Kagoshima, Japan
2008: First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, Canada also 2003.
2007: Oeno Gallery, Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada
2006: Folk Art Nouveau Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
2005: Hannabi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, also 2004.
1998: Japan Foundation Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1995: Canadian Embassy Gallery, Tokyo, Japan /
Zen Niku Gallery, Hiroshima, Japan
Illustration Awards
1999: Toronto Art Director’s Club, Bata Shoe Museum, Canada, Merit Award
1998: Toronto Art Director’s Club, YMCA Canada, Certificate of Accomplishment
1996: UNICEF, New York, Book Cover, Selected Illustration,
1995: Toronto Art Director’s Club, Royal Bank, Canada, Silver Medal
Four Season’s Hotels, Menu Design, Beckett Paper, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Award of Excellence
1994: CA Magazine Awards (USA), Four Seasons Hotel, Canada, Merit Award
Beckett Paper Company, Hamilton, Ohio, USA, Award of Merit for Packaging.
1992: Annual CA Illustration Competition, New York, Selected Design, New York
Toronto / Montreal 350 Birthday Logo Design, selected by Mayor June Rowlands
Hanes Canada T-Shirt Design Competition, Canada, Gold Medal
1989: CAPIC Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators, Jazz Festival Poster, Silver Medal
1988: Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, Art Direction, Roslyn Eskind, YMCA Selected Illustrations.
Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Royal Bank, Silver Medal
1987: International Advertising Festival, Jamaica, New York, Gold Medal
Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. USA, Work selected for the Permanent Collection.
Toronto Art Directors’ Club, YMCA, Canada, Merit Award
1986: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Marshall Cummings & Associates, Merit Award, YPT, Canada, Merit Award
1985: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Metro Toronto Zoo, Canada, Silver Medal / Couples Resort, Merit Award
1984: ‘American Illustration’, (USA) Abrams Publishing, New York, Selected Illustrations
1983: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Avenue Magazine, Canada, Merit Award
Musical Portfolio
Discography: “Summer Never Came” with Mark Kieswetter (piano) & Neil Swainson (bass) 2016.
“Sansongs”: Original Compositions performed on piano by Mark Kieswetter, 2014.
“These Foolish Things” with Mark Kieswetter (piano) 2013.
“Rough Sketch” with Yumi Nakata (piano), Kumamoto Japan 2013.
“These Foolish Things” San Murata, Danny McErlain, Rosemary Galloway & Kathryn Moses, 2004.
“Nuage” with Bob George (piano), Dick Felix (bass) & Gary Benson (guitar) 1995.
Performances
2019: ‘Moshe Hammer and San Murata’ Jazz Bistro, September 18, accompanied by Neil Swainson and Reg Schwager, shared the stage with internationally acclaimed violinist Moshe Hammer, Toronto, Canada
2018: ‘Canada Japan Jazz Exchange’ Victoria Hall, Cobourg, Jazz Bistro with Reg Schwager & Neil Swainson & Japanese jazz players, Toronto, Canada
“Kyushu Nights” 14 Day / 11 Gigs / Jazz Tour in Japan with Neil Swainson, Canada Council Grant
2017: The Loft, Cobourg Laura Smith with San Murata (violin) and Tony Quarrington (Guitar)
2017: “WESTBEN Jazz Fringe” with Steve Holt (piano), 2017 and with Mark Kieswetter (piano) & Ross McIntire (bass), 2016. Jazz @ The Loft, Cobourg with Reg Schwager (guitar) and Neil Swainson (bass) 2017, with Mark Kieswetter (piano) and Neil Swainson (bass) 2016, Mike Francis (guitar) and Dave Young (bass) 2015.
2016: Sundays @ Terra Cotta Inn: Resident Musician with a variety of other jazz artists 2006 to present.
2015: Japan Tour: Kumamoto & Hakata Jazz Clubs, 7 venues with Yumi Nakata (piano).
2014: ‘Chanson Tour’ in France with Japanese Chanson Trio, Toyota (Piano), M. Takasugi (Vocals)
2007: Prego Restaurant, Yorkville. Resident Musician with Bob George (piano) 1995 – 2007.
2005: Le Select Bistro: Toronto, with Nathan Hilts (guitar) and Jack Ziorawski (bass) also 2004.
Other Venues: Top of the Senator, The Rex Hotel, Roy Thompson Hall, Ontario Science Centre. Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival, All Canadian Jazz Festival in Port Hope, Jazz & Folk Festivals, Picton, Barrie, Mariposa and Shelter Valley and Three Tours of Japan to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Fukouka, Hiroshima and Kumamoto, (2009 – 2014)
Tennis
Singles: Ontario Senior Championship, 2016, Finalist, Rank #6 (in Canada), Eastern Canadian Senior Championship, Over 65, Rank #4 (in Canada) 2008. Canadian Senior Championship, Rank #5 (in Canada), Over 55, 1999.
Doubles: Ontario Senior Doubles Championship (OSDC), 2016, Finalist Rank #2 (in Canada), Partner: John Mitchell /OSDC Over 70, Winners, 2012 & 2010. OSDC, Over 65, Winners, 2007 & 2005.