Jiro YOSHIHARA

Born 1905 in Osaka. Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin Commercial College, and also held first solo exhibition at Asahi Hall in Osaka in 1928. Helped form Ninth Room Association in 1938. Became a member of Nika-kai in 1941. Helped form the Ashiya City Art Association in 1948 and became one of its leaders. Helped form the Contemporary Art Panel in 1952 and became one of its executive members.

With young generation avant-garde artists' trust in his hand, formed Gutai in 1954 and became its leader. Opened "Gutaipinakoteka", the base gallery of Gutai in Nakanoshima, Osaka in 1962 and held solo exhibitions of Gutai members. Sudden death in 1972 lead to the dissolution of Gutai.