Satomi Kawai is one of the 14 artists in our current exhibition closing soon, Hybrid Practices. Each featured artist employs media and techniques that challenge notions of what it is to be an artist.
Satomi certainly exemplifies that. Her hybrid work spans multiple media including jewelry, drawing, prints, painting, and performance.
Born in Wakayama, Japan, Satomi’s creativity began with a fascination over the buttons on her grandmother’s dress and wondering how she made her clothing. Satomi studied comparative literature and poetry in Japan, which manifests in her visual work as harmonious textures and layers.
After moving to Iowa City in 1999, Satomi continued her education at the University of Iowa, where she shifted from literary art to visual art. Printmaking, sculpture, and metals were her new forms of expression.
While earning her MFA, Satomi started working in metals, sculpture, and print. These pieces carry a minimalist aesthetic, while being incredibly delicate and intricate. Echoes of Japanese traditions such as flower arrangement, tea ceremonies and calligraphy are evident in Satomi’s compositions, no matter the medium.
More information and imagery from Satomi can be viewed here.