Biography:

Stephen Addiss was Tucker-Boatwright Professor in the Humanities: Art at the University of Richmond and previously taught at the University of Kansas. His artistic journey began during musical tours of Asia in the late 1960s and 1970s. As part of the folk duo Addiss and Crofut, Stephen and Bill Crofut, recorded multiple folk music records with Columbia Records and traveled extensively. Addiss grew a deep appreciation for the elegant simplicity and contemplative nature of Japanese aesthetics, which would become a defining characteristic of his work. He embarked on a lifelong journey to explore and master the techniques of ink painting, calligraphy, ceramics, music composition, and haiku poetry.

Living in Japan in the 1970s, Addiss immersed himself in the rich traditions of Zen Buddhism and its  profound influence on Japanese art. He studied under renowned Japanese masters, refining his skills  and developing a unique artistic voice that blended the traditional and the contemporary. His brushstrokes  captured the essence of nature and the transient beauty of the world, evoking a sense of harmony and  serenity.

Addiss’ contributions as a scholar and educator were equally profound. He dedicated himself to  researching, writing, and teaching about Japanese art, sharing his knowledge and passion with students  and fellow enthusiasts around the globe. His publications and lectures provided invaluable insights into  Japanese art’s aesthetic principles and cultural significance, and he authored numerous books on Asian  aesthetics, Zen art, and haiku, including The Art of Zen and Haiku: An

Anthology of Japanese Poems,  earning him widespread acclaim and respect in academic circles.