Spotlight Artist

Yoko Iwanaga

South
Artist profile photo
Featured in New American Paintings

Artist Statement

My works are based on my memories of childhood. Sometimes I recalled images of these childhood memories. These images change every time, and become my own personal images that give me a mysterious feeling. I express these remembered images in my work using abstraction form. Most of these are in the ordinary scenery of nature.

My childhood world was a gathering of little pieces. Some of them were sunlight from the gaps between leaves; others were little plants on the side of road. This world consisted of the space around me to include seasons, weather and plants, but after I grew up that became a different world with a busy society. I feel there is a reason that I have recalled memories from my childhood because it must be a message from my inner life. I create this world by using pieces of these memories as well as present experiences.

I have manipulated images in my mind into the paintings. I layer the manipulated blurred images and clear images several times. I do not intend to describe everything. Some of those are clear, but some are blurred the way memories sometimes become.

Artist's Additional works

Works shared by the artist outside of their featured New American Paintings selections

Featured artwork
Featured artwork

Discover more artists from the South

THE MAGAZINE

Explore our magazine to discover exceptional artists

Open magazine with text, modern illustrations, and a list of artists on a pink background.
View issues

Call for Artists

Submit your work for consideration

New American Paintings is a juried exhibition-in-print and digital, presenting the work of 40 emerging artists in each issue.

View competitions

Your gateway to new art

Discover tomorrow's art stars, today

Two books on a wooden table with a modern decorative sculpture in the background.

PRINT + EARLY ACCESS DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

$179/YEAR

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

$99/YEAR OR $10/MONTH

Each issue of New American Paintings features forty artists selected through our juried competitions—presented in a beautifully curated, full-color publication. Subscribers receive six issues per year, plus exclusive online access to current and past editions. Are you a collector? Consider our premium subscription and receive our museum-quality printed publication + access to each new digital issue two weeks before its general release.