From the Vault: Hirashi Otsuka

Hirashi Otsuka was born in Tokyo in 1948, and by the age of 15 he was apprenticing under Tateo Jo, one of Japan’s kimono designers. From this apprenticeship, he learned the highly precise painting techniques that he would become known for. In 1979, Otsuka moved to Hawaii, the change influenced his work as he started to branch out from his eastern historical technique and style, and adapt western ideas into the work, arriving at a neo-deco style including intricacy and elegance. His paintings on fabric represent dedication and innovation and call back to his experience in Zen and the martial arts. His work has exhibited nationally and internationally, including solo exhibitions in New York, London, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Hawaii.