Heritage X Exhibit

An exhibition of four Japanese American artists—Nob Hadeishi, Mike Kanemitsu, Keisho Okayama, and Sawako Shintani—who influenced the Los Angeles art scene in the early 1970s. Kanemitsu, Hadeishi, and Shintani met at the famous Chouinard Art Institute near McArthur Park, Los Angeles, which later became California Institute of Fine Arts (CalArts).

While all four artists might be said to be broadly under the post-war abstract expressionist umbrella in different ways and at different times, Kanemitsu’s painting style is directly associated with New York abstract expressionism. Hadeishi’s work was influenced by both the 60's New York and Los Angeles art scenes. Okayama’s work, ranging from color fields to figurative, tends to echo the movement’s interest in the spiritual and unconscious. Shintani’s sculptural work in bronze, cement, and clay also reflects the innovative, non-utilitarian spirit that emerged in California's ceramics community.

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