The 2020 Creative Residents

Naoko Morisawa
Creative Resident — November 2020

Naoko Morisawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, and studied art at Tama Art University Japan. She has worked as a commercial designer for Godiva Chocolate and Twining Tea, and taught art classes in Tokyo, Yokohama, and the Canadian Embassy before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2004.

She has exhibited her work across the U.S. in more than 30 states, in Japanese museums, and at the Dublin Biennale 2014, the National Weather Center Biennale 2017, the Bellingham National 2019 at Whatcom Museum, and the Tokyo Art Olympia Biennale 2019 at the Metropolitan Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan. Her artworks have been selected regionally for the public art projects  for the cities of  Seattle, Kent, Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Shoreline and for projects at Seattle Center, Seattle Public Utilities, Washington Convention Center, Amazon, Nordstrom Inc., and for the General Electric Public Art Exhibition.

More information and more examples of Naoko’s work can be found at www.naokomorisawa.com.

Naoko on Her Artwork 
Wood is an important component in my art. The life of a tree and the energy in each grain of wood are why I use wood. My artwork is hand-made of thousands of very small slices of natural and oil-dyed wood cut on board. I like to incorporate the patterns in the wood and enhance them with oil-stain. The variety of wood grain is very beautiful and the pattern is never the same. The combinations of natural and oil-stained grains create interesting shadows and impressions.

When seen from a distance, my artwork looks like a painting. The details of the work and mosaic technique slowly emerge when viewer comes closer. By using wood mosaic I can show the life and energy. I am currently developing a new body of work using other materials such as paper, cardboard, garden hose, etc. in addition to wood mosaic art-form.

Naoko will be in residence at Bloedel Reserve in November 2020.