Nana Funo

Born in1983, Shizuoka Japan. Nano Funo creates intricate, multi-layered paintings full of mythic and folklore motifs. She paints with acrylic as a base, draws with pens, applies gesso to create stains and gradations, and adds motifs with acrylic paint again. These layers, produced by repetitive masking, consist of decorative patterns, animals and plants, figures and landscapes, and give an incomparable texture to her work. Her delicate and repetitive motifs are like an endless kaleidoscope. The intensity and scale of her motifs remain the same in her paintings, whether they are as large as 13 feet (4 meter) or as small as 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm). It is as if she can expand on her work, as long as there is room on her canvas. Funo draws inspirations from the imaginary and fantastic worlds in which she has indulged since childhood. Her drawing notebooks, another source of inspiration, carry the same intensity. Like a diary, she fills it with drawing brought from her feelings in daily life or memorable incidents, all of which will potentially develop into paintings.

Education 2008 M.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan 2006 B.F.A. Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan Awards 2009 Nominee for VOCA award, Japan. 2008 Tomio Koyama Jury's Award at Tokyo Art Award Collection Takamatsu City Museum of Art The JAPIGOZZI Collection

twitter @funonana Gallery Tomio Koyama Gallery

Exhibition images

Works