The Creatives Studio: Presents and Evening with Isama Sawa

Isamu Sawa was born in Japan and raised in Australia.

He discovered his passion for photography at the age of 11 when his father, a photographer, gifted him a camera. This sparked a lifelong dedication to the craft.

After assisting the renowned Australian photographer John Gollings, Sawa launched his commercial career in 1996. He has since worked across diverse genres, including portraiture, still life, automotive, and rock 'n' roll.

He has crafted timeless imagery for leading local and international brands and personalities, including Holden, Mercedes-Benz, the National Australia Bank, Asahi Beverages, actor Geoffrey Rush and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

In 2015, he held his first solo exhibition, "Without Water," featuring a series of macro studies of decaying flowers. This exhibition marked a significant turning point in his career, igniting his passion for finely crafted still-life photography and leading to an evolving artistic practice alongside his commercial work.

Sawa's ongoing visual art practice is deeply influenced by his Japanese heritage. He embraces principles that celebrate discipline, creativity, and technical craftsmanship, and he is particularly fascinated by the micro world and the intricate details to be discovered within.

His work has been recognised and showcased in several notable contemporary galleries in Australia, including the renowned Black Eye Gallery in Sydney, the Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP) in Melbourne, and the esteemed Gippsland Art Gallery in Victoria.