All of Suffolk University is deeply saddened by the loss of Tamotsu (Tommy) Yamamoto, a world-renowned architectural illustrator, dedicated teacher, mentor, and friend. He always said, “You have no choice” when drawing perspectives in his class. Tommy was charming, witty, and always had an opinion. He loved his students–they were his family. Tommy’s spirit and talent for drawing will always be remembered. He was an absolute gift to all who knew him.
Tommy died on December 2nd after a brief battle with cancer. A beloved instructor at NESADSU for more than 20 years, he maintained a private practice as a design consultant for architects, developers, and interior designers serving local and international clients since 1976.
Tommy was a charter member and President Emeritus of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI). He received several “Awards of Excellence” and his work was exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including in Kyoto Museum of Fine Arts, the New York Avant-Garde Art Festival, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, and in a one-man show at the NESADSU gallery in 2001.
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 Art of Architectural Art III (Rockport Publishers). He was an honorary member of Japan Architectural Renderers Association (JARA), the Design Communication Association (DCA), and an Associate of AIA (American Institute of Architects). He was also listed in “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.”
Tommy graduated from Kyoto City University of Fine Arts with 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 in Boston.