Bridge Between Two Worlds

Midori Curtis

New Intaglio Prints

Artist Biography

The work of Midori Curtis emphasizes the fusion of her life in urban America - epitomized by towering skyscrapers - and the memories of her childhood in Japan, such as the warmth of shoji-screens and wooden houses. The juxtaposition of these two cultures is the essence of her work. She merges the dynamism and energy of New York City life with the beauty of the stillness and harmony in Japanese culture.

She exhibits internationally in New York, Tokyo, Paris, and Athens. Her works are collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Melina Museum in Athens, and by corporations such as British Airways, Calvin Klein, Salomon Brothers, U3 Music Inc. and many private collections around the world.

Ms. Curtis has an MFA from Columbia University, a BA from the School of Visual Arts and a Diploma from the Woman's College of Art in Tokyo. She currently lives both in New York and Japan.

The Artist Talks About Her Work...

My works reflect memories of my Japanese past and the frenetic present of New York City life. I associate natural objects with Japanese culture and geometric forms evoke images of American urban life for me.

In my art, I often merge two or more different materials such as plastics, metals with natural objects like leaves or rice paper. I love the contrast of the heavy European paper and the warmth of rice paper. Even though, the oriental paper looks fragile and light, it's strength is amazing. My life time theme is to somehow put these two very different materials together, combining them to make something very exciting, beautiful and different. Lately I see myself leaning towards nature. It is amazing how different the same nature looks from where you observe the sun, moon, ocean, beach, tiny fish and tiny rocks.

The life theme of my work is to communicate across languages and cultures and evoke beauty from the interaction of different cultures and countries, just like Japanese and Western artists have been influencing each other since the mid-nineteenth century each with their very own unique expressions.
Midori Curtis, 2009