Artist Statement: Growing up in Tokyo, Japan, seeing myself as an individual unique woman was not necessary because blending in with others gains security within the society. Therefore, when I came to America, I realized the existence of "myself" more clearly. Throughout this experience, I began to develop my own ideas of life. "Happiness and harmony in life comes from the recognition of individual differences and the sharing of good hearts and thoughts." In everyday life, we are influenced by each other without knowing it. This is what my artwork is about.
Many cultures have applied gold leaf to pictures. It came to Japan from China and Korea along with the Buddhist faith and the painting of icons. In the sixteenth century, Japan developed its own unique styles and techniques, especially in secular painting. This is the style I use in my work today. As the modern artist I begin my work by computer manipulation, collaging, and the printing of images. I then return to the formal art techniques of painting and gold leafing to complete my work. In my work I bring together old and new icons and images from American and Japanese culture. These combination of images represent the history of two cultures as well as my personal thoughts about the world I am experiencing.
In the middle of rapid globalization, I would like to share my passion, experiences, and visions of living in diverse cultures through my artwork. And perhaps to make the world more aware of what we are, the times we live in, and harmony each of us can create and enjoy together.
Styles: Pop Art
Memberships: San Diego Art Institute, La Jolla Art Association, Woman Made Gallery (Chicago), Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors, Japan on the Road (Japanese art exchange program)
Classes: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 1995-1998, M.F.A.
Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1992-1995, B.A. (Majored in fine art
with a focus on printmaking and painting.)
Musashino Art University Junior College of Art and Design, Tokyo, Japan, 1989-1992, A.A.
Wisconsin Arts Board Visual Arts Fellowship, 2000.
Awards: Second Place, Wisconsin Artists Biennial, 2002.
First Place, Fourth International Open, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2001.
Best of Show, Viewing Contemporary Culture, Printmaking Council of New Jersey, Somerville, NJ, 1999.
Printwork Award, Printwork '99 -Sixth Annual National Juried Printmaking Exhibition, Barrett Art Center/ Dutchess County Art Association, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1999.
Diane R. Bailey Award, The 42nd Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art, the Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts, NY, 1999.
Yeiser '99 Award, Yeiser '99, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY, 1999.
Juror Recognition Award, 11th Annual National Art Competition, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, 1999.
Third Place, 1999 KCAD Juried Competition, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999.
Honorable Mention, 6th National Juried Art Exhibition, Highland Cultural Center, Highland, NY, 1999.
Exhibits:
Solo Exhibitions: Solo Show, Linden’s of Ellison Bay, Door County, WI, 2003; My Life in America, Linden’s of Ellison Bay, Door County, WI, 2002; My Story, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2002; Work of Fujiko Isomura, University of Wisconsin - Marshfield, WI, 2001; Art of Fujiko Isomura, Printmaking Council of New Jersey, Somerville, NJ, 2001; Recent Works, Wisconsin Academy Gallery, Madison, WI, 2001;
Selected Group Exhibitions: Cultural Fusion, The California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, CA, 2007; Celebrate San Diego, La Jolla Art Association, CA, 2007; An Exhibition of Feminist Art, Women's Studies Consortium, UW-Madison, WI. Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center, Chicago, IL, 2007; WA-POP, Hokin Annex Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, 2006; Southern California Regional Juried Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute: Museum of the Living, CA, 2006; Double Vision, Columbia City Gallery, Seattle, WA, 2006; A Decade of Art, James Watrous Gallery of the Wisconsin Academy, Madison, WI, 2004; Art of Note 2004, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Madison, WI, 2004; 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA, 2004; Living in Two Worlds, West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI, 2003; Wisconsin - Saitama Art Exchange 2002, Saitama Modern Art Museum, Tomioka Museum, Tokyo, Japan; A Modern Bestiary, the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI, 2002; Pulcheria Arte, The Cultural Association 218ac, Palazzo S.Pietro, Piacenza, Italy, 2001; A Sampling of PCNJ Award Winning Artists, Printmaking Council of New Jersey, Somerville, NJ, 2001; An Exhibit of Award-Winning Wisconsin Artists, Promega Gallery, Madison, WI, 2000; MatrixArts International 2000, Sacramento, CA, 2000; The Dec 99-Jan 00 Juried Competition, Gallery 210, Syracuse, NY, 2000; Art at the Millennium, the Stage Gallery, Merrick, NY, 2000; Pointing Fingers –2000, Vanguard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, 2000; The 1999 Wisconsin Triennial, Madison Art Center, Madison, WI; Fifth Annual International Exhibition of Women's Art, SOHO20, New York, NY, 1999; 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition Works on Paper, The Berkeley art Center, Berkeley, CA, 1999; Regional VI Exhibition, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1999; 1999 North American Print Exhibition, Boston Printmakers, Boston University, MA, 1999.
Website: FujikoArt.com