Hiro Terao

Hiro Terao was working as an Executive Officer of the American subsidiary of a major Japanese manufacturing company in the mid/late 1980s when he first met the Togashi family. In 1998, he was transferred to Germany where he became the head of European Operations for the same company.

During his time in Germany, Hiro indulged his passion for art by frequenting museums throughout Europe. As a child, Hiro had expressed his artistic talent through watercolor painting, winning honors in local exhibitions, but had not had the opportunity to explore his primary interest of oil painting. It was not until 2002, when he returned to Chicago for work, that he was able to begin formal studies in oil painting at a local community college. Upon his return to Japan in 2004, Hiro continued painting studies with Shotaro Shimizu, a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts. His mentor impressed upon Hiro the importance of expressing his own individuality in his works. It was through this mentorship with Mr. Shimizu that Hiro evolved his style from concrete art to abstract expressionism.

Hiro joined the Japan Artists Group (JAG) in 2009.  He was awarded silver prize in the 2011 members’ exhibit, then Best Work in Show in the 2013 Associate Member division. He has been active as a full member of JAG since 2013.