Mari Sakamoto - Hawaii Artist

I am born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and came to Hawaii in 1991 for my college education and warm weather. For the first year in Hawaii, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in, but Art 101 (most basic art class) changed my life. I found that drawing is extremely fun and realized art is what I wanted to do! After this enlightenment, I drew and painted everyday for 10 years, and got the degree of BFA, and MFA in painting in the University of Hawaii.

I live in Honolulu with my husband and two boys. I produce artwork at my home studio, happily!

My artwork is generally about regular people like you and me doing a regular activity. By using everyday life as a subject matter, I feel very close and attached to my artwork.

Public Work
Big Pool, mural oil painting in Aquatic park in West Oahu, 2005

Selected Group Exhibitions
Labor and Leisure, University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu, 2005
Reflecting Hawaii, Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, 2005
Commitment to Excellence, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
Annual exhibitions, Honolulu Printmakers: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999
Artists of Hawaii, Honolulu Academy of Arts: 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995

Solo Exhibitions
2002 Daily News, Contemporary Museum Cafe’
2000 Waiting Room, Commons Gallery, University of Hawaii
1999 Adding Dimension, bibelot Gallery
1999 Runners, Stairway Gallery, Borders Books and Music, Ward Center
1998 Splash! -lost in crowd-, Stairway Gallery, Borders Books and Music, Ward Center
1997 Recent Works, The Cafe’, Kaimuki

Awards
Hawaii State Foundation of Cultural and Art, Acquisition Award:2002(March), 2002(August), 2001, 1997, 1996(May), 1996(September)
2004 Honolulu Printmaker, Peter Morse Memorial Award
2002 Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, 1st Place in 3 dimensional
1999 Honolulu Printmaker Scholarship
1999 PC Clark Fellowship
1998 Association of Hawaii Artists, Best in Show
1998 Artists of Hawaii, Reuben Tam Award