A native of Boston, Akiba began making photographs in 1969, the year he marks as the beginning of his professional commitment. He went on to study with Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in several formats both in documentary style and in manipulated imagery when he re-photographed his own photographs and then used copy machines to create distortions that heightened the emotional content of the photograph.

His single greatest commitment during the past 15 years has been to landscape photography. He has taken many of his photographs in the Boston's parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

In the introduction to the library's publication that was published in conjunction with the 1999 exhibition, BPL President Bernard Margolis points out that "David Akiba symbolizes the vitality of Boston's community of artists," and then noted that the exhibition and publication are the first of the Boston Public Library's contributions to "1999: Celebrating Boston's Artists," sponsored by the Boston Art Dealer's Association.

Exhibit Catalogue

The David Akiba Collection was exhibited at the Library in 1999.  There is an  exhibition catalogue available for purchase.  Please contact:

Boston Public Library
Business Office
P. O. Box 280
Boston, MA 02117
617-536-5400 ext. 2346

David Akiba Photographed Near Ward's Pond
Photograph by Jane Akiba