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Artists >>
Okamoto-Kozai, Karrie
Okamoto-Kozai, Karrie
Karrie Okamoto-Kozai one of the few rising artists of today who are truly self-taught. Born in Hawaii in 1954, her, family moved to California when she was only 5. However, through her father, a well-known entertainer in Hawaii, the flavor of the islands continues to influence her work.
Karrie’s talent was recognized at a very early age, and she was able to sell her drawings on a regular basis as a high student in Los Angeles. But it was through her involvement in a completely different art form, Japanese Bon Odori dancing, that her work began to mature. In addition to dancing with her husband in several “Obons” a year, she experimented by painting traditional Japanese tattoo designs on the backs of the dancers. They were so impressive and so sought after that she created designs of t-shirts, happi coats and yukatas. Today she enjoys a large loyal following for this work from as far away a Germany.
This was just the beginning. During an art exhibition, world-renowned artist Hisashi Otsuka, noticed Karrie’s husband wearing one of her t-shirts, and quick to recognize a burgeoning talent, her strongly encouraged her to paint on canvas. At first her work was quite traditional, but gradually she has developed her own imitable style.
One of the most common adjectives used to describe Karrie’s work, is “powerful,” similar to the power of Japanese Opera (Kabuki). She has been influenced by the strong line drawings of the traditional Ukiyo-e wood block prints, as well as artists like Rackham, Klimt, Beardsley and Mucha. She is also an untiring researcher and today owns one of the United States most extensive libraries on Japanese Theater and Art.
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