For Sale: International Marriage

Not the way you think. It’s an artwork.

I rarely put my work up for sale. A combination of imposter syndrome, unfair comparisons to other artists, and fear of rejection/judgement put the brakes on my reaching my potential as a capital A artist. Because I didn’t go to art school. I am not cool. I’m not out there making a name for myself either in the gallery world or on TikTok.

Twenty-five years ago in Tokyo I had a one-woman show in a friend’s gallery in Nishi-Azabu. I sold some work: a pair of abstract paintings, prints; and a few hand bound books that combined prints with stories. There was a guestbook full of polite praise from colleagues and friends and one negative comment from a stranger. I have never forgotten that negative (though honest and possibly well-meaning) comment about overreaching myself as an new artist. The criticism was a cage that I crawled into and have hunkered inside ever since.

This year I promised myself that I would try harder to use my artistic skills. And I have! I introduced quarterly one-day “Art & Nature” retreats. I led art experiences in my community at Tasukake, Kozuka Arts Festival, and next week at Oyama Senmaida. There’s a whole category of blog posts for my color experiments and botanical materials. I started compiling a book of Drawing Meditations. All of that is in my wheelhouse. I love to share what I know even when it stretches precariously into my second language.

But one thing that I haven’t done is offer artwork for sale. Today I open the cage that’s trapped me all these years and so I can present this:

Click through for the full description and plenty of photos.

I fully expect you to judge me unworthy; criticise my execution; tell me my concept is trite; or recoil at the price I’ve put on my work.

What I secretly hope, as I peer out of the half-open door of my self-imposed entrapment, is that someone will admire it enough to purchase it.