Born in Calgary in 1928, Harry Mitsuo Kiyooka, RCA, is an exceptionally accomplished painter and printmaker. Kiyooka holds two undergraduate and two Masters degrees in Education (University of Alberta), Art (Universities of Manitoba and Michigan) and Fine Arts (University of Colorado).
He also studied in Italy under Canada Council scholarships (1958-61). Kiyooka returned home in 1961 to assume a teaching position at the then brand new ‘Calgary Campus’ of the University of Alberta. Retiring in 1998 after 27 years, Kiyooka became Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of Calgary.
Kiyooka has worked and travelled extensively in Europe, Japan and the United States. He has been the recipient of the Canada Council Senior Fellowship and has won awards such as First Prize for Painting at the 10th Winnipeg Show, and the Jacox Award-Joint Prize, All Alberta Exhibition from the Edmonton Art Gallery. Kiyooka held a 25 Year Retrospective at ACAD in 1978. His artwork has featured in many national and international exhibitions, including: 6th Biennial of Canadian Art; 85th R.C.A. Winter Exhibition; Montreal Canadian Printmakers Showcase; Spectrum Canada; Olympic Games (Montreal); Tercere Biennial American de Grabado (Chile); Exposition Internationales de Gravure (Yugoslavia); Primera Bienial America de Artes Grapichas (Columbia); First International Biennial Exhibition of Graphic Art and Multiples (Spain); Third Exposition Internationale de Gravure (Germany). For over 30 years, Kiyooka has served on the boards of Canadian Conference of the Arts; the Royal Canadian Academy; the Alberta Society of Artists (Life Member); the Alberta Art Foundation; Calgary Allied Arts Centre; the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation; and the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society (Founding Member, 1982). He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy, and was recently awarded a 125th Anniversary Medal of Confederation for his contribution to the community in establishing the Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts in 1988. Kiyooka received the Award of Excellence from ACAD in 1996 for his immense contributions to visual arts in Calgary. He is an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and co-founder of Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre (KOAC).