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I was born in Berkeley and received my Fine Art degree from UC Berkeley with high honors. My work is interdisciplinary and my current work explores self reflection in isolation, political themes and the Japanese American internment during WWll. Through my research, I continue to expand on my spiritual process of daily meditation and reiki, which assists me to make art that heals.
From an early age I found inspiration and deep resonance in the offerings of nature. I am a third generation Japanese-American, born to parents who owned and operated a wholesale plant nursery in the East Bay Area. Growing up, the artist inside of me was inquisitive and enchanted with the surrounding palette of plants and beautiful flowers while touring the grounds with my father. This led to me learning the trade and working in the family business for over twenty years. In addition to a passion for the botanical, I enjoyed a childhood pastime of painting that I continued to nurture into adulthood. |
I have been an artist since childhood, but I began exhibiting my art in the late 90's. I was invited to exhibit locally and subsequently ventured out to the mecca of New York City where I gained the freedom to explore and spread my wings as a professional artist. It was through the sobering events of 9/11 and my return to the Bay Area, which I discovered new threads appearing in my work. With fresh eyes I began seeing what it meant to be a Japanese-American woman, both historically and in the present 21st century. I was arriving at a deeper, more authentic place both personally and artistically.
In 2005, I proudly watched my daughter graduate from high school and embark on her journey as a young woman entering college. At that time I made a simultaneous leap into my advanced education upon being accepted and majoring in Studio Art Practice at UC Berkeley. During my studies I watched as my body of work evolved from the earlier abstracts of ocean and landscapes to forms infused with Japanese culture and spirituality. My art eventually expanded to include my passion for mixed media sculptures and large-scale installations that have become a birthplace of healing as the emotional voice of myself, and my ancestors find expression.
Now residing in Oakland, I continue my artistic journey in the San Francisco Bay Area. I thrive on walks in nature, spending time with my family, and my Pekingese dog.
In 2005, I proudly watched my daughter graduate from high school and embark on her journey as a young woman entering college. At that time I made a simultaneous leap into my advanced education upon being accepted and majoring in Studio Art Practice at UC Berkeley. During my studies I watched as my body of work evolved from the earlier abstracts of ocean and landscapes to forms infused with Japanese culture and spirituality. My art eventually expanded to include my passion for mixed media sculptures and large-scale installations that have become a birthplace of healing as the emotional voice of myself, and my ancestors find expression.
Now residing in Oakland, I continue my artistic journey in the San Francisco Bay Area. I thrive on walks in nature, spending time with my family, and my Pekingese dog.
RESUME
GROUP EXHIBITIONS and PRESENTATIONS:
Sparcx, Arc's 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Arc Gallery, SF 2021
Scapes, City, Land & Sea, SF Woman Artist's Gallery, Juried, SF 2021
DisOrient Film Festival, Sansei Artists film documentary, Oregon, 2021
Stop the Hate, PSA video, Kerwin Berk, Ikeibi Films, 2021
A Conversation, Westly Uenuten Sansei Artists on JA Internment, SF 2020
Sansei Artists Film Documentary, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Fest, 2020
Say Their Names Video, Kerwin Berk, Ikeibi Films, 2020
Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene, Zoom Artist Interview, 2020
Sansei Artists Presentation on JA Internment, Jsei, Emeryville 2018
Sansei Artists, Ephemeral Glimpses Behind the Barbed Wire, Manzanar 2018
Year of the Dog, Chinese Cultural Center, Curator: Leon Sun, SF, CA 2018
Message in a Bottle, Palace of Fine Arts, Juried, SF, CA 2018
Identity, Arc Gallery, SF, CA 2016
Artspan, SF, CA 2015
Running with Scissors, Art on 30th, San Diego, CA 2015
Artspan, SF, CA 2014
Hotel Triton, SF, 2014
Our American Stories, Madeleine Hass Russell Gallery, SF, 2014
Flo Wong’s 75th & Group Exhibit, Luggage Store Gallery, SF 2013
Visual Harmoney,Village Theater Art Gallery, 2013
Day of the Dead, SomArts, Curators Rene Yanez & Rio Yanez, SF 2012
40 Watts NCWCA,Pacific Art League, Palo Alto 2012
One Year After Benefit, Mission SJ, Fremont CA 2012
Day of the Dead, SomArts, Curators Rene Yanez & Rio Yanez, SF 2011
Visual Arts Showcase, City Hall, Curator: Pamela Wu, SF 2011
Serenity Winter, UCSF Womens Health, Curator Matt McKinley, S.F. 2011
Driftwood Salon, A Place of Her Own, San Francisco, 2010
Re-Claim, SomArts Cultural Center, Curator: Pamela Wu, S.F. 2010
March, Vita Art Center- Ventura Juried 2010
Yearning to Breath Free, USF, School of Law, S.F. Juried 2010
A Place of Her Own, SomArts Cultural Center, S.F. 2009
Hybridity- SomArts Cultural Center, S.F. 2009
Residency Workshop at De Young Museum, AAWAA, S.F. 2009
Transformation, Brava Theatre, Curator: Diane Rea, S.F. 2009
Family Day, AAWAA Artist Demo, De Young Museum, S.F. 2008
Cheers to Muses, St. Lukes Hospital (Cardivascular Center), S.F. 2008
Dyslexic Cake, Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, 2007
Fired at Davis, Ceramic exhibit, UC Davis, 2006
Ceramic Dept. Group Show Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, 2006
Small Works, Atlantic Gallery, NYC 2002
Summer Group Show, Monique Goldstrom Gallery, NYC 2002
Summer Group Show, Broom Street Gallery, Juried NYC 2002
Summer Group Show,Atlantic Gallery, NYC 2001
International Women Artists, 1 Market Plaza, S.F. CA 2001
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Ocean series, Rosenblum Cellars @ Jack London Square, CA 2018
Birds of a Feather, Rosenblum Cellars, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA 2017
Oceanscapes (Solo Lobby Exhibit), Firehouse Arts Center, Curator: Julie Finegan, Pleasanton, CA 2015
Nature Paintings, Addison St. Windows, Curator: Greg Morozumi, Berkeley, CA 2013
Alamo Square Seafood & Grill, Curator: Samantha Meyers, SF, CA 2011
Ki, 2223 Restaurant, Curator: Matt McKinley, SF, CA 2011
EDUCATION:
AA, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
BA Arts, University of California; Berkeley, CA
AFFLIATIONS:
AAWAA Asian American Women Artists Association, SF, CA 2008 to 2021
GROUP EXHIBITIONS and PRESENTATIONS:
Sparcx, Arc's 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Arc Gallery, SF 2021
Scapes, City, Land & Sea, SF Woman Artist's Gallery, Juried, SF 2021
DisOrient Film Festival, Sansei Artists film documentary, Oregon, 2021
Stop the Hate, PSA video, Kerwin Berk, Ikeibi Films, 2021
A Conversation, Westly Uenuten Sansei Artists on JA Internment, SF 2020
Sansei Artists Film Documentary, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Fest, 2020
Say Their Names Video, Kerwin Berk, Ikeibi Films, 2020
Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene, Zoom Artist Interview, 2020
Sansei Artists Presentation on JA Internment, Jsei, Emeryville 2018
Sansei Artists, Ephemeral Glimpses Behind the Barbed Wire, Manzanar 2018
Year of the Dog, Chinese Cultural Center, Curator: Leon Sun, SF, CA 2018
Message in a Bottle, Palace of Fine Arts, Juried, SF, CA 2018
Identity, Arc Gallery, SF, CA 2016
Artspan, SF, CA 2015
Running with Scissors, Art on 30th, San Diego, CA 2015
Artspan, SF, CA 2014
Hotel Triton, SF, 2014
Our American Stories, Madeleine Hass Russell Gallery, SF, 2014
Flo Wong’s 75th & Group Exhibit, Luggage Store Gallery, SF 2013
Visual Harmoney,Village Theater Art Gallery, 2013
Day of the Dead, SomArts, Curators Rene Yanez & Rio Yanez, SF 2012
40 Watts NCWCA,Pacific Art League, Palo Alto 2012
One Year After Benefit, Mission SJ, Fremont CA 2012
Day of the Dead, SomArts, Curators Rene Yanez & Rio Yanez, SF 2011
Visual Arts Showcase, City Hall, Curator: Pamela Wu, SF 2011
Serenity Winter, UCSF Womens Health, Curator Matt McKinley, S.F. 2011
Driftwood Salon, A Place of Her Own, San Francisco, 2010
Re-Claim, SomArts Cultural Center, Curator: Pamela Wu, S.F. 2010
March, Vita Art Center- Ventura Juried 2010
Yearning to Breath Free, USF, School of Law, S.F. Juried 2010
A Place of Her Own, SomArts Cultural Center, S.F. 2009
Hybridity- SomArts Cultural Center, S.F. 2009
Residency Workshop at De Young Museum, AAWAA, S.F. 2009
Transformation, Brava Theatre, Curator: Diane Rea, S.F. 2009
Family Day, AAWAA Artist Demo, De Young Museum, S.F. 2008
Cheers to Muses, St. Lukes Hospital (Cardivascular Center), S.F. 2008
Dyslexic Cake, Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, 2007
Fired at Davis, Ceramic exhibit, UC Davis, 2006
Ceramic Dept. Group Show Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, 2006
Small Works, Atlantic Gallery, NYC 2002
Summer Group Show, Monique Goldstrom Gallery, NYC 2002
Summer Group Show, Broom Street Gallery, Juried NYC 2002
Summer Group Show,Atlantic Gallery, NYC 2001
International Women Artists, 1 Market Plaza, S.F. CA 2001
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Ocean series, Rosenblum Cellars @ Jack London Square, CA 2018
Birds of a Feather, Rosenblum Cellars, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA 2017
Oceanscapes (Solo Lobby Exhibit), Firehouse Arts Center, Curator: Julie Finegan, Pleasanton, CA 2015
Nature Paintings, Addison St. Windows, Curator: Greg Morozumi, Berkeley, CA 2013
Alamo Square Seafood & Grill, Curator: Samantha Meyers, SF, CA 2011
Ki, 2223 Restaurant, Curator: Matt McKinley, SF, CA 2011
EDUCATION:
AA, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
BA Arts, University of California; Berkeley, CA
AFFLIATIONS:
AAWAA Asian American Women Artists Association, SF, CA 2008 to 2021
