YUMIKO   I REI – GOKCE

Originally from Osaka, Japan, immigrated to the USA in 1970, and became an American citizen in 1994. Her education has been both intensive and wide ranging, including: The Osaka University of Fine Arts, The Bauhaus Method of Graphic Design, under prominent Josef Muller-Brockmann of Switzerland, Gakushoin; The School of Calligraphy in Tokyo, Japan and The Ox-Bow School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Her work is collected by the museums as well as corporate and privates’ fine art collectors.

ARTIST’S  STATEMENT

Being of Japanese heritage and having underlying Eastern philosophies, I am profoundly aware of my native aesthetic. At the same time, for many years I have been exposed to international influences which continue to affect my work at both conscious and unconscious levels. As a multicultural artist, I wrestle with both the Western conception of art, based on the notion of individualism, and the Eastern perceptions that are rooted in long established tradition.     

Over the years, some of my work; Collagraph prints has been evolved with the metaphysical notion of an illusive, flat surface into an actual three-dimensional depth.

I construct multiple prints in an unconventional way to create a single work of art which often imply ambiguity in the duality between microcosm; in which the human body itself provides an archetype of the universe and to a macrocosm; in which nature can contain either the centrifugal forces of energy as well as the changing process of evolution and erosion. The layers of desiccated and eroded paper peel back image of magma from the center core of the Earth…. The vitalities of the natural phenomena or the boiling passion and rage of human emotions revealed? 

I depict these traits with detail and flow of contours, visual masses and flux.

I often use genuine Japanese traditional materials; such as Washi paper, Nikawa & Funiri glue, as well as Sumi ink with natural pigment ; Ganryo and method of Urauchi & Mizubari  in order to create untraditional own singular  prints: Monoprint (Monotype ) in addition to Collagraph Print Construction.

2005    “ NEW WORKS ” by Yumiko Irei-Gokce

      at KRAFT LIEBERMAN GALLERY

2004    “ Artist Inspired TOYS Exhibit ”

            at KRAFT LIEBERMAN GALLERY

2004    “ Constructions and Revelations ”

      at THE NOYES CULTURAL ART CENTER, Evanston, IL

      Sponsored by the Evanston Arts Council and partially sponsored by a grant from

      the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

2003    “An Exhibition of Selected Gallery Artists”

at KRAFT LIEBERMAN GALLERY in Chicago

2002            “Contemporary Art of Chicago”

            A multi-media exhibition of the artists living and working

            in Chicago and vicinity,

            organized and presented by THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM at Schaumburg

2001            “PRIVATE SANCTUARY”

            Collaborative Exhibition by three artists

            at Walsh Gallery in Chicago,

            organized and sponsored by

            The City of Osaka, Chicago Office

            The Osaka Committee of The Chicago Sister Cities International Program

2001    “ART SCENE CHICAGO”

            The work of over 60 Chicago artists

            presented by the Chicago Athenaeum at Schaumburg

2000            “EARTH and SKY”

            Works of The 30 Chicago Artists in the Chicago O’Hare International Airport

            organized by the Department of Aviation

1999    “INTO THE  FUTURE”

            An exhibition by Japanese Artists in Chicago and in Japan

            at Japan Information Center in Chicago

1999            “FROM  HERE  TO  THE  NEXT  CHAPTER”

            An exhibition by studio’s artists

            at ARENA ATELIER creative zone in Chicago

1999    Works on Paper ;  Print, Drawings, Collage

            A Juried Show

            at Fine Arts Building Gallery in Chicago

1999            Invitational Group Exhibit, “ Contrasts :  New Abstract & Narrative

            Printmaking in Chicago “

            at Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, IL

1998    “Ink Show” Invitational Group Exhibit, Walsh Gallery, Chicago

1997    Group Exhibit :  Participation to Summer Fest

            in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

1997            Midwest Juried Print Show of North Shore Art League at

            Loyola University, Chicago

1996            “American Artists and the Collagraph Print” The Breck School, Minneapolis

1993            IMPULSE ’93, Pyramid Atlantic, Washington, D.C.

            An exhibit of fax-technology, including drawings, writings, and other images

1989    “All eyes on Gallery Row”

             Corcoran Gallery, Muskegon, Michigan

1989    Paper Constructions and Installations, Gallery Vienna and

            Gallery Vienna Annex, Chicago

1988    “ART IN WASHI” Mexico International Exhibition, Mexico City, Mexico

1987            “Japanese Art Today :  KAMAE” Exhibition, The South London Art Gallery,

            Supported by the Japan Foundation, London England

1987            “Tokyo Osaka : Back to Back” Gallery Space 21, Tokyo

            and Amano Gallery, Osaka

1986    Print Constructions, Akiyama Gallery, Tokyo

1985    Print Constructions, Tokyo American Center, Tokyo

1983    35th Illinois Invitational State Museum, Springfield, IL

1983            Gleicher and Associates, Chicago

1981    “New Dimensions” Co-op Gallery, in the Evanston Art Center, Evanston

1981    The Print Cub 57th Annual Competition, Philadelphia

1980    The Gallery in the Library

            presented by The Barrington Area Art Council, Barrington

PERMANENT  COLLECTIONS

Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL

First National Bank of Skokie, IL

Confederation Life Insurance, Canada

Burton Kleinman Inc.,Chicago,IL

The Creative  Works, Chicago, IL

Abbott International Ltd., Chicago, IL

Holleb & Coff Ltd., Chicago, IL

Fuji Graphics ,Tokyo, Japan

Gallery  Space 21, Tokyo, Japan

Gleicher & Associates, Chicago, IL

Corcoran Gallery, Muskegan, MI

and other Fine Arts Private Collectors

For any questions and complete Biography, please contact the Kraft Lieberman Gallery