A New Written Interview: Hiroyuki Suzuki on Atelier 17

In July, Arnaud Quentin of Art San Gallery in Gujo Hachiman, Japan, wrote to the Atelier 17 Project. He was preparing an exhibition devoted to the printmaker Hiroyuki Suzuki (b. 1950), who had worked at Atelier 17 in Paris from 1973 to 1977, and he proposed conducting a written interview with the artist about those years. The interview was conducted in Japanese, translated into English by Arnaud’s wife, Yoko Quentin, who co-founded the gallery with him. Art San Gallery published the interview this month.

Hiroyuki Suzuki inking a plate at Atelier 17, Paris, 1974. Courtesy of Hiroyuki Suzuki

We are glad to share the interview here. Suzuki describes arriving in Paris a month before he was due to start, in August, intending only to look around. Bill Hayter was in the studio despite the summer holiday, spoke with him briefly, and told him to start working then and there. He describes Hayter’s unique approach, advising each artist individually:

"Rather than behaving like a traditional teacher, he treated us more like younger colleagues or fellow artists."

Suzuki spent some weekends at Atlelier 17 helping Hector Saunier (1936–2024) print — including Hayter's 1950 collaboration with Samuel Beckett and a Tanguy plate from the 1930s. Suzuki and Saunier stayed in contact until Saunier's death and held a two-person exhibition together in Nagoya in 2013.

Artists at Atelier 17, rue Daguerre, Paris, 1975. Hiroko Yamamoto is third from left; Hiroyuki Suzuki is at right. The remaining figures are unidentified. Courtesy of Hiroyuki Suzuki.

In addition to the photographs of himself at work at Atelier 17, Suzuki also shared a group photograph of Atelier 17 members at the studio. We need help identifying them. Hiroko Yamamoto (b. Osaka, 1948) is third from the left and Suzuki is at the right. If you recognize a face, please reach out to us at info@a17project.org.

Our thanks to Arnaud Quentin and Yoko Quentin for proposing, conducting, translating, and sharing this interview, and to Suzuki for his time and for the photographs.

The Work of Printmaker Hiroyuki Suzuki (版画家･鈴木広行の仕事 展) will be on view at Art San Gallery, Gujo Hachiman, Gifu, Japan, October 3 – November 29, 2026, Friday through Sunday, 11:00–17:00, and other days by appointment.