HARUMO SATO

CONTENT EMERGING ARTIST AWARD: Visual Artist 2020

Harumo Sato was born in Tokyo, Japan, and went to school for philosophy and international relations in Kyoto before an illness struck and her initial career path was permanently altered. She spent several years overcoming her resulting disability and found solace and inspiration by drawing. “It was one of the only things I could do without asking for direct assistance,” she says. After several years of recovery, she decided to embrace her creative side and transfer to the University of Buffalo, where she earned a BA in art. Her experience with illness combined with her interest in environmental issues brings depth to her whimsical murals, paintings, and prints. She holds a studio space at Cubberley Artist Studio in Palo Alto; she made contributions to Pow! Wow! San Jose in 2018 and Superfine! Art Fair in Los Angeles in 2019, and was muralist for Facebook’s Artists in Residence Program in 2019.

“Our ancestors knew how to respect and create harmony with nature, earth, and life itself. With advanced technology, we enjoy convenience and forget we are part of nature. I want to rejuvenate our forgotten respect [for] nature and make a bridge between technology and harmony with Earth. Since my art practice started as a rehabilitation and I now know the power of art, I really want to find opportunities to work for a hospital [or] nursing home, where people need positivity though art.

“When I got sick nine years ago, I thought I was so unlucky to become a disabled person. It was painful and depressing. But, through this sickness, I met awesome people, gained new dreams, and opened a new path to where I really want to be. I believe any difficulties we confront can be a gift. Now, we all share the difficulties [of surviving] this global pandemic. It will be tough to pass through, but I really hope we learn from it and find a better way to live with others.”

harumosato.com

Written by Nathan Zanon

Illustration by Gabriel Coke