Mio Hara

I grew up living between two cultures, in Japan and the USA. From a young age, art has always been part of my world. My mother is an artist, and growing up I watched her produce art and live with art, and this inspired me.  

Color is a significant aspect of my work. Just as the subject matter is important, the interplay of colors within composition created by shapes is always the challenge I take on while creating work. Once I immerse in the creative process, what I see are color, shapes and how each other interact with another.

Many of my inspiration derives from nature. Nature always nurtured my soul. In Japanese culture and tradition, the idea of nature and nature as “kami” or spirit are weaved deeply within. Shinto, a Japanese ethnic religion, is deeply rooted in nature. And the idea of trees, mountains, rivers, animals and oceans as sacred and divine comes most naturally to me.

1995-1997Sociology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan

1999-2002 Bachelors of Fine Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2004-2005Masters in Arts, National College of Education, National Louis University, Chicago, IL