Artist Statement

I was born in Brazil, descended from Japanese immigrants, and I am currently based in the United States. My artistic practice encompasses paintings, wire sculpture and photography. My work attempts to integrate the cultural and societal differences among the various regions where I have lived, including Western Europe, into a cohesive vision of humanity. I paint abstract and figurative subjects on canvas, wood panels and paper, using acrylic, water-miscible oils, watercolor and inks. I often add textures with collage, gesso or other materials, and I tend to use strong, bold colors, but at the same time my themes or messages are usually subtle or muted. This apparent contradiction is a result of the opposite influences in my life, derived from: the extroverted and materialistic West versus the East, introspective and appreciative of the impermanence of life; the developed and rich Northern hemisphere versus the developing and vibrant South; and the rationality and rigor of science (my former professional background) versus the intuitive freedom of art. My work thus represents an amalgamation of different cultural values and aesthetics. As a consequence, I am driven to investigate what is common amongst all peoples, hidden just below the surface appearances, and what connects us with each other and with the world around us. I am currently working on an abstract series about rivers, which illustrates the transience of objects and of nature itself, utilizing collage and acrylic. A previous abstract series called “Networks” referred to the connections among individuals and cultures, mainly using sumi ink and watercolor crystals (Brusho).

Artist Biography

Personal information
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Currently resides and works in Colorado, USA
Education
1985: PhD in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology- University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
1979: BSc in Biology- University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition History
2024: Group exhibition of finalists at the Art Olympia International Art Competition, Atami Yamaguchi Museum, Atami, Shizuoka, Japan
2025: Online group exhibition of semifinalists at the Tartget art competition, Madrid, Spain (tartgetpaintingprize.com)
Collections
2024: Purchase of painting titled “Stormy Arrival” by the Atami Yamaguchi Museum, Atami, Shizuoka, Japan

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