Artist Statement

 

 

My Shining Flecks series includes the use of golden pigment on a handmade paper. It is a continuation of my exploration into tiny golden dots expanding onto broader nature-designed abstractions and organic forms. I am utilizing powdered golden pigments, ink, and natural liquid adhesive on handmade paper and painting countless tiny dots by brush. The shining flecks are expanding to infinity. It is like reviving something in my images inspired by organic forms. 

 

Flecks of Shine series depicts abstract and simplified forms that work in my central theme of spiritual revivals in a different way. For this new series, I have created a distinctive technique of painting tiny dots in gold. After undergoing a unique process, the pigment’s texture and flecks are permanently fixed in gold. Everything from a small spot to the entire groove reflects light, amplifying its natural beauty. These paintings are infused with both concrete and abstract significance and various fascinating shapes. 

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Apetalous series (apetalous means “flower having no petals”) also shows abstractions and organic forms designed by nature. Here, my works are focusing on Pistils and Stamens. I found such unique and beautiful shapes in flowers without petals. I feel intense life energy from these organic shapes that are the cores of flowers.

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Biography

 

Katsura Okada was born in Tokyo, Japan, attended Sokei Academy of Fine Art & Design and has a Master of Japanese Calligraphy Arts from the Tokyo Academy of Calligraphy Art. 

 

The artist’s distinctive works include a myriad of tiny dots painted by brush in different colors and arranged in a particular order to give an impression of an organic form or an abstract shape. Katsura utilizes powdered golden pigments, ink and natural liquid adhesive on handmade paper to produce her unique lightweight paintings. Says the artist: “For this new Flecks of Shine series, I‘ve created my own technique of painting tiny dots in gold; after undergoing a special process, the pigment’s texture and flecks are permanently fixed in gold. Every tiny part, every groove reflects the light, amplifying its natural beauty”.

 

Since 1990, Okada’s work has been shown extensively worldwide, including many European countries, Mexico, Canada and the United States. She has exhibited in a number of galleries in Brooklyn and NYC, including A.I.R. Gallery, Black and White Gallery, Columbia and Marymount Manhattan Colleges among others. 

 

Recently, Okada’s works have been exhibited at Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Hammond Museum in North Salem, New York, and Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts, She also participated in the 57th Venice Biennial in 2017. The artist’s works have been shown in her native Japan in Karuizawa New Art Museum in Nagano, and the Museum of Arts & Crafts-Itami in Hyogo. Okada has received first prize/grants from Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Shoto Museum of Art in Tokyo and the SoHo Art Competition in New York among others. 

 

Publications include Hyperallergic, ARTspeak, Manhattan Arts, NY Arts Magazine, the Yomiuri America newspaper, New York, LUXOS (Milano), Collezioni Sport & Street (Modena), IL NOTIZIARIO DELL’ A.I.A.M. (Rome), Les Editions Arts et Images du Monde (Paris), DART International Magazine (Toronto) and others.