In Memoriam: Tamotsu ‘Tommy’ Yamamoto, Beloved School of Design Professor
December 5, 2012
Tamotsu 'Tommy' Yamamoto
Newton, MA—Over the weekend, beloved and long-time School of Design Professor, Tamotsu ‘Tommy’ Yamamoto passed away after a brief battle with cancer. He is survived by extended family throughout the world.
Professor Yamamoto graduated from Kyoto City University of Fine Arts with a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts Degrees. He was affiliated with the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT and studied architecture at Boston Architectural College. In 1976, he graduated from the postgraduate program of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Tommy was a world-renowned architectural illustrator. Since 1979, he taught at the School of Design at Mount Ida College, and was recipient of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society award for International Scholars (1999), and the 2002 recipient of the Lettieri Award for Excellence in Teaching. He also taught at other colleges, including Boston Architectural College, Mass College of Art & Design, Wentworth Institute of Technology, New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, and University of Idaho as a guest professor for their summer school in Europe. Professor Yamamoto maintained a private practice as a design consultant for architects, developers, and interior designers serving local and international clients since 1976.
Professor Yamamoto was a charter member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI), and has served as a member of the by-law committee, international coordinator, treasurer, vice president and national president (1986-96). He was president emeritus and an advisory council.
He received several "Award of Excellence" awards and his work was exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Asia since 1985, including a one-man show at the gallery of the New England School of Art and Design, at Suffolk University, 2001, and a four-person invitational show at the Boston Architectural College. He served as a panelist, commentator, and speaker, during the ASAI annual conventions.
His work was published in many books as well as in ASAI's annual publications. Most recently, six pages of his work can be found in the book entitled The Art of Architectural Art III, Rockport Publishers. He was an honorary member of Japan Architectural Renderers Association (JARA), the Design Communication Association (DCA), and Associate AIA (American Institute of Architects). He was also listed in “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.”
Professor Yamamoto participated in fine art exhibitions since 1970, including: Kyoto Museum of Fine Arts, the New York Avant-Garde Art Festival, and Boston Artists Open Studio Shows. His works were shown at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. In February 2002, he held a solo-exhibition titled "T. Yamamoto, a 30-year Retrospective of Conceptual Work" at the Gallery at Mount Ida.
Friends, family and colleagues are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Friday, December 7, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Newton Cemetery Chapel, 791 Walnut St., Newton, MA. A reception will follow at Mount Ida College, 777 Dedham St., Newton Centre at the New England Institute Conference Room.
Tamotsu Yamamoto Scholarship
Those who wish may contribute to the Tamotsu Yamamoto Scholarship at Mount Ida College, which was established in 1999, and is awarded annually to the outstanding junior who demonstrates strong potential in interior design. To make your online donation, please click here, or contact Mount Ida’s Office of Development at (617) 928-4633.