Artist Bio
Michelle Kumata is a Seattle native with a BFA in Illustration from The School of Visual Arts. She worked as a graphic artist at The Seattle Times for over a decade. She also served as Exhibit Director at Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience for 12 years, where she worked with community members to bring their stories to life through compelling exhibitions. Michelle’s work has been shown at Frye Art Museum, COCA, Bumbershoot, Nordstrom and The Society of Illustrators Museum, New York, NY. She is currently exploring the Japanese diaspora in the U.S. and Brazil through oral histories and visual storytelling.
Artist Statement
I am influenced by heritage, identity and legacy. My work focuses on stories of Nikkei (people of Japanese descent living outside of Japan). These stories are powerful tools that parallel current issues of immigration, racism and culture and challenge my growth as an artist. - Michelle Reiko Kumata Song for Generations (Detail) By Michelle Reiko Kumata Acrylic on canvas 2019 This is a detail of a larger work referencing the history of Bellevue Nikkei, from the early farmers, through the WWII forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, to the younger generations. This image represents the legacy of the incarceration and the future of younger generation Nikkei. Barbed wire appears in the open mouths of two Nikkei who have found their voice to speak out against injustice, past and present. A young girl gives flight to a paper crane or tsuru, a symbol of peace and hope.
Social Media
Instagram: @michellekumata
Website