About

Biography

The art of Grace Amemiya is a vehicle for moments of self-reflection. She does not strive to dictate the results of this reflection, since each viewer will have his or her own interpretation of the piece. Instead, her work, whether it is painting, print making, or multi-media, brings the viewer to a state which facilitates the process of looking inward. She uses vibrant colors and often juxtaposes colors in unexpected ways. This holds attention, providing a starting point for the viewer’s experience. Her work then invites a deeper personal involvement. The representational images and icons that Grace Amemiya uses in most of her work evoke a certain familiarity, which beckon the viewer to take the time to consider the source of that familiarity. Symbols take on meaning based on personal and cultural experiences, so when we reflect on the meaning of a symbol, we are really thinking about our own experiences or self. Grace Amemiya’s art is further enriched by the varied psychological innuendos and personal meanings that her choices of colors create. Although different cultures assign certain meaning to colors (e.g. red for passion), universally colors arouse emotions of the mind and spirit. Grace Amemiya employs color in a bold and primal way that energizes her paintings with emotional content. Since 1989, Grace Amemiya’s work has been shown in numerous gallery and group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and elsewhere in the United States, as well as Paris, France. Her art was also exhibited in the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles and the Riverside Art Museum. In addition to her avocation as a fine artist, Grace Amemiya also works in other areas of the field of art. She has worked for many years as a freelance commercial artist, specializing in graphic design and packaging. No doubt her keen understanding of color studies and how colors interact with human emotions has crossed over to her paintings and other fine art work. She also conducts art workshops for children, and she has directed art projects for youth at risk in collaborations with the renowned mural group East Los Streetscapers.

– Cheryl Perkey Owner, Perkey Gallery

Resume

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

  • Sony Pictures Culver City, CA
  • Riverside Museum of Art, Riverside, CA Traditions Abandoned/Traditions Retained
  • DADA Los Angeles, CA DADA,Downtown Lives, 3rd Fashion Show
  • Rachel Lozzi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA Orgins and Transitions
  • Highways, Santa Monica, CA Who Do You Think You Are?, 4th Annual Women’s Festival
  • Trans America Gallery, Los Angeles, CA SALUD A.R.T E
  • Le Centre d’Animation et de Loisirs VALEYRE, Paris, France Lumieres de Californie
  • Southwest Museum. Los Angeles, CA The Self-Help Graphics Retrospect
  • Bolsky Gallery, Otis School of Art & Design, Los Angeles, CA
Day Without Art/MODARTE: A Wearable Art Exhibit
  • Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, CA Self-Help 20th Anniversary Celebration ofDia De Los Muertos
  • Bayfront Gallery, Herbst Pavillion, San Francisco, CA Quincentennial :Chicana & Latina Perspectives
  • Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, CA Icons of The Human Spirit
  • Maison des Femmes de Paris, Paris, France Collectif De Encuentos
  • Echo Park Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 4 Contemporary L.A. Women Artists
  • Pochteca Gallery, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii Dia De Los Muertos
  • Bakerfield College Art Gallery, Bakerfield, CA Self-Help Graphics Retrospective Exhibit
  • Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA Pacific Prints 1990
  • Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, CA Atelier XIV and XV
  • Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, CA COLOURS

INSTALLATIONS:

  • Northwest Portraits – Lead in Billboard for NewTown Art, Pasadena, CA
  • Premiere Aztlan Gallery Pasadena, CA HEALY’S SUS COMETAS – The Art of Soccer
  • Park Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, CA DAY OF THE DEAD BALL – COFFIN INSTALLATION

TEACHING POSITIONS:

  • Junior Barnstall Art Center Art Partners, Los Angeles, CA
  • Laguna Art Museum Children’s Workshop, ?Seuss on the Loose?
  • Comision de Femenil Gifted Children Program, 2nd Street School, Boyle Heights, CA

DESIGN:

  • CD & Album Covers: RATT, Laaz Rocket, Ian Whitcomb, Numerous Rhino Records Artists including James Brown, The Everly Brothers, Julie Brown and Barnes & Barnes
  • Packaging Design: Disney, Mattel Toys, Dakin, Oggi Corporation,
  • Associate Creative Director: EarthLink
  • Art Director: Rhino Records

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

  • Chalk One Up for These Artists, The Rafu Shimpo, July 9,1997
  • Asian Artwork Helps Dispel Stereotypes, Los Angeles Times, October 30, 1994, Page 9
  • La Femmes Artist, Paris, France May 1991

COMMISSIONS:

  • Cheryl Perkey triptic mix media on canvas
  • Marrianne Canter oil on canvas

BOARD MEMBER:

  • Newtown Art, 2006-7 Secretary, Pasadena, CA

EDUCATION:

  • Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California
  • Self-Help Graphics, Los Angeles, California