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Yukio Kevin Iraha's goal in life had always been to be creative. His work may or may not be easily understood, but his art tells a story. It is a collections of stories, derived from the past. His sources of inspiration include cultural anecdotes, history, and folk tales. Yukio Kevin Iraha then mixes those ideas with personal experiences and his imagination. The outcome may be abstract, concrete or illustrative. Some ideas come from watching comedy shows, particularly from the silent film era, which he believes is a source of stress relief. His recent endeavor is a series of comic strips, "Nine Bits." This is a series of mischievous episodes about nine ghosts haunting a cafe owner, Mr Az. The strip was based on one of Iraha's paintings, "A Ghosts of Funnies Revisited, " which is a memorial depiction of a nine deceased children, lined up, dressed in clown outfits.
Yukio Kevin Iraha has a degree in Fine Art and has exhibited paintings through out United States and Japan. He has also worked in the commercial art field as well. He has contributed art to some publications and has done commission work. Acrylic is his primary medium, but he has used unconventional objects like antique wood or papermache for three dimensional art. His art is eclectic and ethereal but his integrity never fails in both the creating and outcome of the pieces. He clearly believes there is a line between fraud and true artform. He says,"I try to express true self. I don't make art to please people, but at the same time I won't exhibit art that's intentionally distasteful." |
CV
Yukio Kevin Iraha
Born in Japan
Residence: Washington , USA
Education
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bachelor of Fine Art 1993 Portland, Oregon
Selected Exhibitions
2018
Award
Born in Japan
Residence: Washington , USA
Education
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bachelor of Fine Art 1993 Portland, Oregon
Selected Exhibitions
2018
- “12th Annual Holiday Mini Art Exhibit (2018-2019)”, Ghost Gallery, Seattle, Washington
- Northwest Fine Arts Competition (juried) Phinney Center Gallery, Seattle Washington
- “SMILE: Humor & Whimsy” Juried Exhibit, Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, Washington
- “Silver Linings” at Era Living University House Wallingford, Seattle, Washington
- PNA Member and Volunteer Show, The Phinney Center Gallery, Seattle, Washington
- “Arts at the Port Juried Exhibition” Anacortes Arts Festival, Anacortes, Washington
- “FUNctional Art Fundraiser” Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, Washington
- Solo show “Quiet Retreats” University Friends Meeting, Social Hall, Seattle, Washington
- Solo show “Interiors, Fortress, Retreats” Freeland Library, Freeland, Washington
- "Small Work"(juried show) Dendroica Gallery, Seattle, Washington
- “10th Annual Holiday Mini Art Exhibit” Ghost Gallery, Seattle, Washington
- Coupeville Arts Festival, Juried Art Show, Coupeville, Washington
- Northwind Arts Center/Showcase Gallery Port Townsend, Washington
- Washington 43rd Helen Norris Open Art Show, Port Orchard, Washington
- “Faces of America: A Celebration of Cultures” The Artreach Gallery Portland, Oregon
- “The October International Competition” juried by Peter Frank, independent curator and art critic for the L.A. Weekly. The Armory Art Center West Palm Beach, Florida
- “17th Biennial Exhibition Contemporary Works of Faith ‘01” The Schumacher Gallery, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
- “Virtue” (juried) College of Visual Arts St. Paul, Minnesota
- Solo show“Featured Art Exhibit” Corvallis Arts Center Corvallis, Oregon
Award
- 2017 Merit Award, “SMILE: Humor & Whimsy” Juried Exhibit
- 2013 Honorable Mention, 43rd Helen Norris Open Art Show
- 1993 Purchase Award Liquitex Excellence in Art Student Grant Program
- Binney & Smith, Easton, PA
- Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, WA