Hiroki Sakamoto was born in Kagawa, Japan in 1964. In 1986, he graduated from Osaka University of Art with a bachelor’s degree in crafts. After working for 12 years as an art director in Japan, he moved to New York in 1998.
In 2002, he won the annual The Best Photography web-site award by PDN (Photography District News). In 1999, he has also won an A Class award in the Fourth Japanese Calligraphy Competition, hosted by Japanese Consulate. He has also become a member of numerous prestigious clubs such as New York Art Directors Club, AIGA, and Digital Illustrator Discovery Organization.
He started a blog called “hoopNBA from New York”(http://hoopnba.exblog.jp) in 2005, and it became one of the top blogs in Japan quickly. HoopNBA keeps a blog ranking ranging from 1 to 3 daily. Every day, he has over 2,000 viewers at his internet blog and his paintings showcased on his blog soon became popular. Because of this popularity, he was able to have his first solo exhibition in New York in 2006. It was called “Illustrations of a Sports Blogger” Solo Exhibition (798 Avant Gallery, Chelsea, New York, USA).
1964
Born in Kagawa, Japan
––––––––––––
1986
Graduated from Osaka University of Arts
––––––––––––
1995
[40th Young Art Festival in Kagawa] Kagawa, Japan
––––––––––––
1998
Moved to New York
––––––––––––
2005
Started Blog "hoopNBA" http://hoopnba.exblog.jp
hoopNBA has been seslected the best blog by excite.co.jp
––––––––––––
2006
"hoopNBA" was selected the most popular blog in Japan [Sports Category]
Solo Exhibition [Illustrations of A Sports Blogger], 798Avant gallery, Chelsea, New York
––––––––––––
2007
Published an essay "John Nalan New York"
––––––––––––
2008
Group Exhibition [Idolatry], Temporary Gallery, Lower East Side, New York
China Earthquake Fundraising Event Silent Auction, ChinaSquare, Chelsea, New York
Solo Exhibition [Illustrations of Hoops] Kagawa, Japan
––––––––––––
2009
Solo Exhibition [Hiroki Sakamoto Solo Exhibition] Salon de Ruby, Kagawa, Japan