The Prints of Roger Shimomura
Exhibition Overview
Best known as a painter and theatre artist, Roger Shimomura explores his Japanese American identity through a vibrant and provocative stylistic combination of 20th-century American pop art and traditional 18th- and 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints. Through viewing his printed works, one discovers a number of firsts, among them the artist's first examination of place; his first attempt to combat racist stereotypes by appropriating racist caricatures; and his first use of explicitly sexual imagery.
The Prints of Roger Shimomura features selections from more than 30 years of Shimomura's printmaking. The exhibition is offered in conjunction with the May release of The Prints of Roger Shimomura: A Catalogue Raisonné, 1968 - 2005. The book, co-published by the Spencer and the University of Washington Press, features color reproductions of more than 135 prints, along with an introductory essay and artist's notes. It is the first publication to examine systematically a specific body of work within Shimomura's larger oeuvre. Written by PhD candidate Emily Stamey, designed by Professor of Design Patrick Dooley, and supported by the Marilyn J. Stokstad Publications Fund, the book represents a collaboration of KU talents.
This exhibition is made possible by the support of corporate sponsor Morgan Stanley.
Exhibition images
Works of art
