Aya Shiraishi

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Aya moved to the US to study Fine Arts.  She lives with her family in the Hudson Valley region of New York, after living and working in New York City for more than a decade.

Through my art practice, I preserve daily scenes of leisure and nature that I experience living in the
Hudson River Valley in New York.
My process acts as a form of visual journaling. Most of my paintings are made from quick photographs I
take of seemingly small but beautiful moments; in this way, my artwork is innately personal because it is
directly inspired by my daily life, family, and friends. The paintings can be seen as frozen moments of life,
emphasized by their small sizes and playful cropping.
In particular, I’ve recently become more aware of the subtle changes I witness around me. In 2018, my
family relocated from New York City to the Hudson River Valley, a region famous for its natural beauty
and history that has inspired many artists in the past. Being more immersed in nature, I increasingly
appreciate both the small and large seasonal changes, the gradual progression of light throughout the
day, plant growth, and local animal populations in my environment. These natural elements are almost
always significant aspects within my compositions and are often treated with the same importance as
human figures.
My daughter is also a powerful inspiration for my art. As I witness her learn things about the world and
navigate life, I am fascinated by her development and growth. Every moment of both stillness and
change in our lives together is beautiful. However, my love of all these moments can invite a feeling
bordering on panic, which fuels my habit of taking many photos and preserving them through painting.
By taking a photo and carefully recreating it, a seemingly mundane moment is elevated into one of
importance. Across subject matter, I look to capture the essence and feeling of a person or place rather
than strictly recreate it.
I typically create these snapshots using alcohol markers on traditional Japanese paper called Gasenshi
or acrylic paint on paper; in the past, my work has spanned acrylic, gouache, and large-scale oil
painting. I was introduced to alcohol markers after my daughter started to use them, and I was
unexpectedly drawn to the manner in which the ink bleeds on the thin and soft Gasenshi paper. The
consistency of the alcohol markers on the paper’s surface introduces a small element of unpredictability
and spontaneity which poetically reflects the moment-in-time aspect of my work. Additionally, the
markers’ immediate nature suits my fast-paced process. I also find that the limitations of the medium—
such as color and small marker tip size—invite experimentation.
Formally and conceptually, my work finds resonance in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist
movements. I maintain the loose brushwork in order to emphasize fleeting moments of nature and
leisure akin to the Impressionists. My loose approach to perspective and depth, brighter-than-life colors,
and the blurred lines between abstract patterns and descriptive forms follow the tradition of Post Impressionists. All of these choices create a playful and even whimsical relationship between human figures and botanical elements, foreground and background, and shadow and light, made with the
intention of memorializing these moments with vibrancy and love.

Aya Shiraishi
b. Tokyo, Japan
lives and works in Nyack, NY
https://www.ayashiraishi.com/
Instagram: @shiraishi.aya https://www.instagram.com/shir...
Education
2000 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, BFA Painting
Group Exhibitions
2023 Artist Members Exhibition, Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, Nyack, NY
2023 7th International Juried Exhibition, Teravarna Gallery, Online
2004 Multiples, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2000 Thesis Project, Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI
1999 Some of Each, Win, Providence, RI
Award
2023 Honorable mention Award, 7th International Juried Art Competition, Teravarna Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

NY

United States