Interplay of time, space, lights and color. My explorations are floating, crossing boundaries, touching the center, space, the shape of a swirl as in the Scrollworks series. I explore color and light and how they relate to sound. My images draw inspiration from all my experiences: happiness, sadness, anger, pain, beauty and ugliness. These influences mature in my mind, to be expressed perhaps ten years later. I draw a line extending in all directions and find out something that spreads like a feeler. Or, I may be losing something in the making of a piece. It may be lose and found simultaneously or in alternation.

Sometimes the images come from the outside. Sounds create a picture in my mind. These can be bombing sounds from the news, or screaming mad sounds that stick into my heart. The images are coming from outside like this. Other times, images grow from ideas within me. When I am painting, I move the brush as I release all the sensitivity inside. I feel that the images come from somewhere in the sub-conscious. I always sharpen my nerves in daily life, especially when I painting. I concentrate in order to paint pure sensation, to make pure images. The compositions in my mind come ceaselessly without a rest.

I reference persistent feelings of hope, which are synergized with reality in the radiant drawings. The creative process behind this latest addition to my growing body of work is the realization of experience that provides the original and individualistic expression.

For my installations, I have created rice paper rolls in clusters which take on an amorphous shapes on the wall and are supported by an idea of color. The works are evidence of my expansion of line, space and most importantly, color palette. The simple and organic shapes find a form in the air, as interplay of time and space with lights and color.

Note: "Japan was the only country where nuclear weapons were used for war, and it has been the only country where radioactive contamination went ahead through the accident of the nuclear power plant. In my exhibition, I pray the people all over the country would be feel relieved heartily and to have life safely in the country. And I hope that will be the last first in the world, and then we need to consider it again from the beginning. After the last first, I hope that kind of the Re-Origin going to go to the future for people on all over the world..."

KOstudio2001@yahoo.com
http://Katsura.neoImages.net
http://katsuraokada-artist.blogspot.com/

Born Tokyo, Japan. Katsura Okada lived in Tokyo until 2002, when she moved to New York.

EDUCATION

Tokyo Academy of Calligraphy Arts, Tokyo; 1992 Master of Japanese Calligraphy Arts
Sohkei College of Fine Arts, Plastic Arts Courses, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan School of Music & Fine Arts, Japanese-style Painting Courses, Tokyo, Japan
Painting / Drawing Lessons by Paul Ambille, the Ecole, Tokyo

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

New Art Center, New York City (Fall, 2012)
"The Re-Origin: After the Last First", A.I.R. Gallery,Brooklyn, NY (1/4-1/28, 2012)
“Eddies: New Installation”, A.I.R. Gallery, NY (2/4-3/1, 2009)
"ZEST II", curated by J. Y. Yadomaru, at The Space at Midtown, New York City (3/20-6/22, 2007)
"ZEST", Broadway Gallery, New York City (11/16-11/30, 2004)
"Canon: History: Cycles...", curated by Zishan Ugurlu Ph.D., The Gallery at The Marmara Manhattan, New York City (8/26-9/26, 2004)
"Scrollworks", 473 Broadway Gallery, New York City (10/16-11/29, 2003)
"3rd Recently Works on Paper", 450 Broadway Gallery, New York (10/31-11/13, 2000)
"2nd Works on Paper", 450 Broadway Gallery, New York (7/1-7/17, 1999)
"Works on Paper", 450 Broadway Gallery, New York City (7/2-7/25, 1998)

SELECTED TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2008 "Investigations" with Phyllis Ewen, curated by Millie Burns, Hewitt Gallery of Art - Marymount Manhattan College, New York City, NY (4/28/08-5/22/08)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2011 "Wish You Were Here 10”, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/22/11-7/16/11)
“A women’s work is never done” curated by Susanne Altmann, A.I.R. Gallery, NY (1/5/11-1/30/11)
2010 “Your Documents Please” Traveling Exhibition at Alma in Manhattan, New York City (11/3/10-11/21/10)
“The 5th Blue Sky Project Traveling Exhibition", Imai Museum of Art, Mitsuke City, Niigata, Japan (8/20/10 –8/29/10)
“The 5th Blue Sky Project Exhibition", Joetsu Civic Gallery, Niigata, Japan (7/ 31/10 –8/8/10)
"Wish You Were Here 9”, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/23/10-7/18/10)
"…and sweeps me away" A.I.R. National Artists Group Exhibition, curated by Barbara O’Brien, A.I.R. Gallery, NY (3/8-3/28, 2010)
2009 "Art against the crisis", Galleria L’Arte di Anna Callegari, Molinella, Italy (7/3/09-7/6/09)
"Wish You Were Here 8”, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/24/09-7/19/09)
"Your Documents Please", Galería Ajolote Arte Contemporáneo, Guadalajara, Mexico (4/17/09-5/8/09)
"Your Documents Please", GALÉRIA Z - Bratislava, Slovakia (2/12/09-3/8/09)
"Your Documents Please", Galerie Kurt im Hirsch, Berlin, Germany (1/9/09-2/2/09)
"Contemporary Humanism" A.I.R. National Artists Group Exhibition, curated by Rocio Aranda-Alvarado, A.I.R. Gallery, NY (1/7-2/1, 2009)
2008 "Your Documents Please ", 2B Galéria, Budapest, Hungary (11/28/08-12/30/08)
"Your Documents Please ", ZAIM/Paris Gallery, Yokohama, Japan (8/2/08-8/17/08)
"Your Documents Please - International Identification Document Exhibition", curated by Daniel Georges and Rumiko Tsuda, The Museum of Arts & Crafts-ITAMI, Hyogo, Japan (4/4/08-4/20/08)
"Wish You Were Here 7", A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/24/08-7/19/08)
"Structured Incidents", curated by Charlotta Kotik, A.I.R. National Artists Exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, NYC (3/4/08-3/29/08)
"Group exhibition - works on paper: Women in the arts during National Women's History Month 2008", at the Puck Building, New York City, (March 28th, 2008)
2007 "Compass", curated by Jill Conner, Black & White Gallery, Brooklyn, New York (Sep-Nov ‘07)
"Wish You Were Here 6", A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/26/07-7/21/07)
"Made Out of the Ordinary" By the national gallery artists of A.I.R., curated by Lesley Wright, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (1/10/07-2/3/07)
2006 "Night of 1,000 Drawings", Artists Space, New York City (11/8/06)
"Salon de Expace #3", AG Gallery, Brooklyn, New York (6/30/06-7/9/06)
"Wish You Were Here 5", A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/27/06-7/22/06)
"Being In Space" the national member exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (1/10/06-2/4/06)
2005 "Night of 1,000 Drawings", Artists Space, New York City (12/9/05)
"The 2nd Blacklight Gallery 2005", curated by Sofia Camargo and Thomas Klasen, Bahnhof Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany (10/1/05-1/3/06)
"Wish You Were Here 4", A.I.R. Gallery, New York (6/29/05-7/23/05)
"Cluster" the national member exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, New York (2/8/05-3/5/05)
2004 A group exhibition, Broadway Gallery, New York (12/23/04-12/30/04)
"Wish You Were Here 3", A.I.R.Gallery, New York City (6/22/04-7/17/04)
2003 "Drawing Conclusions II: Work by Artist-Critics", organized by Gae Savannah & Jill Conner, NY ARTS Gallery, New York City (12/12/03-1/13/04)
"Seasonal Litter” a group show, curated by Elizabeth Park, Broadway Gallery Annex, New York City (12/12/03-1/13/04)
2002 "yourself - autoritratto", Sesto Senso Gallery, Bologna, Italy (7/11/02-7/26/02)
"Medusa Aurea XXV Edizione" Juried Exhibition, Residenza Montemario, Rome, Italy (5/20/02-5/25/02)
"Reactions", Exit Art, New York (1/26/02-4/27/02)
2001 "2nd A Praise of Small Format in Contemporary Art", Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot, Paris, France (12/5/01-12/10/01)
"2nd World Festival Art on Paper" Juried Exhibition, Bled, Ljbljana, Slovenia (10/20/01-12/22/01)
"Politics and Justice", curated by Stefano Pasquini, Spazio EDGE, Festival dell'Unita', Modena, Italy (9/5/01-9/9/01)
"SUK", curated by Stefano Pasquini & SAM01, Sesto Senso, Bologna, Italy (6/13/01-6/26/01)
2000 "A Praise of Small Format in Contemporary Art", Galerie le Carre d'Or, Paris, France (12/14/00-12/19/00)
"World Festival Art on Paper" Juried Exhibition, Presernovo In Univerzitetno Mesto Mestna Obcina, Kranj, Slovenia (9/1/00-9/15/00)
1997 Ariel Gallery, New York (May '97)
1995 Manhattan Law Firm of Gratch, Jacobs and Brozman, New York City (8/15/95-12/15/95)
1994 "Selected Excellence Works Exhibition '94", Takei Art Museum, Tochigi, Japan (November '94)
Community Cultural Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan (April '94)
Takei Art Museum, Tochigi, Japan (4/17/94-5/31/94)
1993 Obi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (December '93)
"Salon d' Automne", Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France (10/23/93-11/1/93)
"JIAS Biennale (Japanese and Chinese Arts Juried Exhibition) Excellence Arts of Shanghai Museum of Art", Tokyo Central Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (6/8/93-6/13/93)
Takei Art Museum, Tochigi, Japan (2/21/93-4/4/93)
1992 "Kunst En Calligrafie Uit Japan" Juried Exhibition, K.C.L. Foundation of Limburg Art, Maastricht, Netherlands (11/3/92-12/10/92)
"Salon d' Automne", Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France (11/7/92-11/15/92)
"Exposiocio Artesania Japonesa" Juried Exhibition, Centre Permanent d' Artesania de la Generalitat de Cataluna, Barcelona, Spain (4/8/92-5/3/92)
The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (2/9/92-2/23/92)
1991 "Beyond the Form", Ariel Gallery, New York (12/21/91-1/11/92)
"Salon Japonais de Paris '91" Juried Exhibition, Galerie de la Mairie du Vleme, Paris, France (11/18/91-11/30/91)
"Salon d' Automne", Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France (10/19/91-11/3/91)
"One's Own Image", Ariel Gallery, New York (7/13/91-7/27/91)
"Space & Gesture", Ariel Gallery, New York (3/16/91-4/6/91)
The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (2/10/91-2/24/91)
1990 Gallery of Gabriell Roy Library, Quebec, Canada (10/17/90-11/15/90)
"New York City Soho Art Competition #10", Juried by George Tomko, Ariel Gallery, New York City (8/4/90-8/25/90)
"Sho Et Peinture Contemporaine Du Japon" Juried Exhibition, Japan Gallery in Montreal Botanical Garden, Montreal, Canada (5/15/90-8/14/90)
The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (2/18/90-3/4/90)
1989 The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (2/5/89-2/19/89)
1987 Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (March '87)

SELECTED PERFORMANCE

2011 “We Love Japan and Japan Loves US: Performances and Craft Market”, Fundraising Event for Helping Japan, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, April 16, 2011

Flat Files
A.I.R.Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS/PANEL DISCUSSION

2009 Stefano Pasquini: “A Feminine View Feminine artistic creativity presents its deeper side.” 66 - 72 pages, LUXOS, Fall/Winter 2009 issue, Milano, Italy
2008 D. Dominick Lombardi: “Compass: New Directions, A show curated by Jill Conner at Black & White Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn” d’art International magazine, volume 11, Number 1 #22 Spring/Summer 2008 issue, 33 page, Canada
2007 Paddy Johnson: "Compass New Directions at Black and White Gallery in Williamsburg", Art Fag City.Com (11/8/07 issue)
The James Kalm Report, Williamsburg Odds and Ends, October 2007 10/31/2007 on YouTube, NY USA
"Trajectories: Women and 3D Abstractions" Panel Discussion, Moderated by critic Carey Lovelace, Black & White Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (10/13/07)
Rodger Stevens: Critic’s Pics "Compass: New Directions Black & White Gallery", Williamsburg and Greenpoint Monthly Art Guide, October issue 2007
"Made Out of the Ordinary: An Exhibit by the National Artists of A.I.R. Gallery, curated by Lesley Wright", Color catalogue, Published by A.I.R. Gallery, NY (January)
2005 Ed Weinberg: "The Interplay of Time and Space: Katsura Okada", NY Arts Magazine, 65 page, May/June 2005, Vol.10, No. 5/6 edition, NY, U.S.A.
Erica Snow: "The Zest of Katsura Okada ", NY Arts Magazine, 38 page, January/February 2005, Vol. 10, No. 1/2 edition, NY, U.S.A.
2003 "failbetter.com" the online magazine; selected artworks and essay by Katsura Okada, Fall/Winter 2003 issue, NY, U.S.A.
"U.S. FrontLine", October 20, 2003 No.196 issue (biweekly newspaper), NY, U.S.A.
2002 "IL NOTIZIARIO DELL' A.I.A.M.", No.4 - Aprile-Giugno, Rome, Italy
2001 "2nd World Festival of Art on Paper in Ljbljana, 2001", Libliana, Slovenia
2000 Stefano Pasquini: "Katsura Okada: Abstraction with a twist", NY Arts Magazine, 46 and 47 Pages, December 2000, Vol.5, n?·2 edition, NY, U.S.A.
"World Festival of Art on Paper in Kranj, 2000”, Krani, Slovenia
1999 "OKADA. K" A fully illustrated catalogue with essay by Takako Kasai published by 450 Broadway Gallery, NY, U.S.A.
1998 Takako Kasai: “Katsura Okada’s solo exhibition”, THE YOMIURI AMERICA (Newspaper, NY edition) 613 issue (weekly) on Friday 24th June 1998", NY, U.S.A.
1997 Points of View; essay "Abstraction” by Katsura Okada, Artis Spectrum - Volume 1/3 Edition, NY, U.S.A.
1996 "Manhattan Arts" Summer Edition, NY, U.S.A.
1993 "SALON D' AUTOMNE GRAND PALAIS PARIS ART CONTEMPORAIN" Paris, France
1993 "1993 OBI JIAS BIENNALE (JAPANESE AND CHINESE ARTS JURIED EXHIBITION) - EXCELLENCE ARTS OF SHANGHAI MUSEUM OF ART", China and Japan
1992 "JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ARTS EXHIBITION 1992 IN NETHERLANDS", Netherlands and Japan
L' histoire du Salon d' Automne, de 1903 a nos jours Edition of the"Les Editions Arts et Images du Monde", Paris, France
"SALON D' AUTOMNE 1992" Paris, France
"EXPOSIOCI ARTESANIA JAPONESA", Spain and Japan
Deborah Cohen & Thomas Lawrence: Previews and Reviews "Beyond the Form, Ariel Gallery ", Manhattan Arts, 18 page, Jan/Feb Edition, NY, U.S.A.
"SHOTO MUSEUM OF ART 1992", Tokyo, Japan
1991 "SALON JAPONAIS DE PARIS", France and Japan
Zoltan Hegyes: “Eight contemporary abstractions” April (page 6) 1991, Will Grant: “All summer long, Ariel Gallery explores for talent” September (page 14) 1991, Martin Parsons: “Dominating Sharpes” September (page 21) 1992, Blair Schiller: “Inner and outer views” November 1993, Summer 1993, September 1994, E.C. Lipton: “Creative vision” October (page 16) 1995 and Zoltan Hegyes: “Feature an international roster” June/July (page 31) 1997 Editions, ARTspeak, NY, U.S.A.
"SALON D' AUTOMNE GRAND PALAIS 1991" Paris, France
"SHOTO MUSEUM OF ART 1991", Tokyo, Japan
1990 "EXPOSITION CONTEMPORAINE DE PEINTURE JAPONAISE EXPOSITION SHO AUJOURD' HUI", Canada and Japan
"Art Mind" - May Edition, Tokyo, Japan
"SHOTO MUSEUM OF ART 1990", Tokyo, Japan
1989 "SHOTO MUSEUM OF ART 1989", Tokyo, Japan

AWARDS / GRANTS

2002 Medusa Aurea XXV Edizione Award, Accademia Internzionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy
1999 Accademical Commander Award, honored by Ordine Internazionale Greci - Marino - Accademia del Verbano, Verbano, Italy
1998 Corraresponding Academician Award, honored by Accademia Internazionale Greci - Marino - Accademia del Verbano, Verbano, Italy
1994 Excellence Award / Grant, Takei Art Museum, Tochigi, Japan
1993 Winner in 1993 Salon d'Automne Juried Exhibition, Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France
1992 Winner in 1992 Salon d'Automne Juried Exhibition, Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France
1991 Winner in 1991 Salon d'Automne Juried Exhibition, Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France
1990 Excellence Award, NYC SoHo International Art Competitions #10, Juried by George Tomko, The Art Mind, Inc., New York City, U.S.A.
1990 Excellence Award / Grant, The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
1987 The First Award / Grant, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan

COLLECTIONS

ATA Inc., Tokyo, Japan / Toho Inc., Tokyo / Nakano Corporation, Tokyo / Akashi Co. Ltd., Tokyo / Kyoko Kaji, Japan / Noriko Okazaki, Japan / Yuko Shimura, Japan / 450 Broadway Gallery, NYC / Sesto Senso Gallery, Italy / Ginza Gallery Toki, Tokyo / Minsyuku Taki, Kanagawa, Japan / Law office of Troncone & Associates, Washington, D.C. / Mr. & Mrs. Kano, NY / Malka Lubelski Culture Foundation, NYC / The Gallery at the Marmara-Manhattan, NYC / Fish Tank Gallery: Mr. Hilario Nuno, NY / Ms Dara Cook, NY / Ms. Berkeley Parks, WA and many others