The MacKenzie Art Gallery is proud to announce the exhibition Spring on the Prairie: Kiyoshi Izumi and the work of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama, the first comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the work and legacy of Kiyoshi Izumi (1921–1996), a pioneering figure in Canadian architecture. This landmark exhibition will open on 12 September 2024 and will provide a deep dive into the 32-year career of Izumi, whose innovative designs have left a lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s architectural landscape. 

Kiyoshi Izumi, the first known Canadian architect of Japanese descent, overcame significant social and racial barriers in the post-war era to become a celebrated architect both provincially and nationally. Born in Vancouver to Japanese immigrant parents, Izumi’s life took a dramatic turn following the introduction of Canada’s War Measures Act in 1942, which led to the forced relocation of Japanese Canadians in coastal British Columbia. Izumi was able to avoid internment camps and eventually settled in Regina, where he became a leading figure in modernist architecture. 

Izumi’s architectural career is marked by a series of iconic projects that have shaped the cultural and civic landscape of Saskatchewan. With partners Gordon Arnott and James Sugiyama, Izumi and the architectural firm of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama were responsible for significant landmarks such as the expanded College Avenue Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Regina Public Library Central Branch, and the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts (now Conexus Arts Centre). In Saskatoon, the firm contributed to the postwar expansion of the University of Saskatchewan campus, including notable buildings like Marquis Hall and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of Izumi’s career was his collaboration with British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond and Canadian biochemist Abram Hoffer. Together, they reimagined psychiatric hospital design, leading to the construction of the Yorkton Psychiatric Centre in Saskatchewan. To ensure his designs were sympathetic to patients, Izumi engaged in unconventional research methods, including experimenting with psychedelics. This unique approach allowed him to gain insights into how space and environment could affect patients’ experiences, leading to architectural innovations that earned international recognition. 

 

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS 

Spring on the Prairie: Kiyoshi Izumi and the work of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama will showcase a diverse range of Izumi’s work through original research, archival material, architectural plans, models, and photographic documentation. The exhibition will be curated by Tak Pham, Curator of the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in Calgary, and Bernard Flaman, a conservation architect and architectural historian based in Regina. 

Visitors to the exhibition will explore several key themes, including: 

  1. Japanese Canadians in the 1940s and 1950s: This section will feature archival material documenting the migration of Japanese Canadians from the West Coast to the Prairies, providing historical context for Izumi’s personal journey and the broader Japanese Canadian experience. 
  1. Building Saskatchewan: Architectural drawings and models of Izumi’s most significant projects, including the Regina Public Library Central Branch and the Conexus Arts Centre, will be on display.  
  1. Izumi and Modernism: This section will delve into Izumi’s most innovative projects, including the Yorkton Psychiatric Centre and his modernist residential designs in Regina. The projects will be contextualized with a selection of Canadian artworks of the period from the MacKenzie’s permanent collection. 

Kiyoshi Izumi’s contributions to modernist architecture in Saskatchewan are a testament to his talent, vision, and determination. Through his work, Izumi not only transformed the built environment of Saskatchewan but also contributed to the broader dialogue on architecture, healthcare, and social reform. His pioneering efforts in psychiatric hospital design have influenced architectural practices across North America, making him a significant yet often underrecognized figure in Canadian history. 

The MacKenzie Art Gallery invites the public to explore Spring on the Prairie: Kiyoshi Izumi and the work of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama and discover the remarkable story of an architect who overcame significant barriers and made a profound impact on the architectural and cultural landscape of Saskatchewan and beyond. 

For more information about the exhibition, please visit Spring on the Prairie: Kiyoshi Izumi and the work of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama | MacKenzie Art Gallery

 

ABOUT THE MACKENZIE   

Located in Treaty 4 territory, the MacKenzie Art Gallery is Saskatchewan’s oldest public art gallery, with a 50-year history of championing Indigenous art from Indigenous perspectives. The MacKenzie embraces its unique position within the Canadian and international art landscape, celebrating the diverse perspectives of all artists within the plains region and Canada. It has a focus on Indigenous and contemporary art, contextualized through select historic and international work.   

 

MEDIA CONTACT  

Angela Lackey  

Communications Coordinator  

MacKenzie Art Gallery  

alackey@mackenzie.art  

(306)-584-4250 x4271 

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