Exploring the Harmony of Eastern and Western Cultures through Multimedia Art by Miya Ando

Miya Ando, a Japanese/American artist based in New York, creates art that reflects the harmony between Eastern and Western cultures through the lens of natural phenomena.

Ando’s work can be found in various public collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Nassau County Museum of Art, Corning Museum of Glass, Detroit Institute of Arts, and more. She has also held solo exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Asia Society Museum, Noguchi Museum, and Savannah College of Art and Design Museum. Additionally, her work has been featured in group exhibitions at renowned institutions like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The artist has received numerous grants and awards, including the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant Award. She has also completed notable public commissions, such as a 30-foot-tall sculpture made from World Trade Center steel for Olympic Park in London. Ando’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies from the University of California, Berkeley, studies at Yale University, and an apprenticeship with a master metalsmith in Japan.

Nature plays a significant role in Ando’s art, serving as a symbol of impermanence and interdependence. Her works often merge manmade materials with organic elements, creating pieces that reflect the cycles of life and the passage of time. Through extensive research of Japanese literature and historical texts, she integrates Japanese idioms in her practice, emphasizing a deep reverence for the natural world.

For Ando, creating art is a way of exploring and understanding her own thought process. Through her artworks, she delves into the concept of “Mono no aware,” a Japanese philosophy that highlights the fleeting nature of existence. Her commitment to using art as a tool for social good was exemplified in her support of Tibetan nuns through the sale of her mandalas and paintings.

In essence, Miya Ando’s art transcends cultural boundaries, blending Eastern and Western influences to offer a unique perspective on nature, impermanence, and the interconnectedness of all things.