Collection Cards: People
Roger Shimomura is an artist who lives and works in Lawrence, Kansas. He taught painting at the University of Kansas for many years. His family is Japanese, but he grew up in the United States. This painting is like an autobiography that shows all the things that have influenced his art.
This painting was untitled, but Shimomura renamed it Dinner Conversation with Nancy when he donated it to the Spencer Museum in honor of his friend Nancy Zimmerman. He said that “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house.”
How does the title of the painting fit with its meaning?
What images represent your life?
Spencer Museum of Art Highlights
Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series Oriental Masterpieces and Oriental Masterprints, which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery, and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937–1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery in Lawrence, Kansas, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.
20/21
Since coming to teach at KU's Visual Arts Department, Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series "Oriental Masterpieces" and "Oriental Masterprints," which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937-1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery here in Lawrence, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.”
In addition to the arts, Zimmerman took on numerous other causes: she advocated banning the use of poison to control the city’s pigeon population, fought to save the old railway depot, and organized fundraisers for the Lawrence Community Theater. In a memorial article at the time of her death, Shimomura remarked, “I’ve never met anyone like her who was so enthusiastic and positive about life.”
20/21
Since coming to teach at KU's Visual Arts Department, Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series "Oriental Masterpieces" and "Oriental Masterprints," which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937-1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery here in Lawrence, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.”
In addition to the arts, Zimmerman took on numerous other causes: she advocated banning the use of poison to control the city’s pigeon population, fought to save the old railway depot, and organized fundraisers for the Lawrence Community Theater. In a memorial article at the time of her death, Shimomura remarked, “I’ve never met anyone like her who was so enthusiastic and positive about life.”
Google Art Project
Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series Oriental Masterpieces and Oriental Masterprints, which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery, and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937–1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery in Lawrence, Kansas, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.
Ear for Art
Didactic label content here.
20/21
Since coming to teach at KU's Visual Arts Department, Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series "Oriental Masterpieces" and "Oriental Masterprints," which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937-1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery here in Lawrence, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.”
In addition to the arts, Zimmerman took on numerous other causes: she advocated banning the use of poison to control the city’s pigeon population, fought to save the old railway depot, and organized fundraisers for the Lawrence Community Theater. In a memorial article at the time of her death, Shimomura remarked, “I’ve never met anyone like her who was so enthusiastic and positive about life.”
20/21
Since coming to teach at KU's Visual Arts Department, Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series "Oriental Masterpieces" and "Oriental Masterprints," which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937-1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery here in Lawrence, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.”
In addition to the arts, Zimmerman took on numerous other causes: she advocated banning the use of poison to control the city’s pigeon population, fought to save the old railway depot, and organized fundraisers for the Lawrence Community Theater. In a memorial article at the time of her death, Shimomura remarked, “I’ve never met anyone like her who was so enthusiastic and positive about life.”
Exhibition Label:
"Windmills to Workshops: Lawrence and the Visual Arts," Jul-2004, Kate Meyer
Since coming to teach at KU's Visual Arts Department, Roger Shimomura has become widely known for his print series "Oriental Masterpieces" and "Oriental Masterprints," which combine traditional Japanese print styles, American cartoon imagery and a contemporary sense of graphic design.
Shimomura donated this painting to the Spencer in 1988 in honor of Nancy Anne Zimmerman (1937-1988). Co-owner of the former Kellas Gallery here in Lawrence, Zimmerman not only showed Lawrence artists’ work in the gallery, but also encouraged them by treating them to meals, arranging employment opportunities, and visiting their studios. Originally untitled, Shimomura renamed this painting Dinner Conversation with Nancy upon its donation to the Spencer, remembering that, “Nancy had a lot of interesting dinner parties at her house. Always a lot of artists, and a lot of fascinating and sometimes contentious conversation over food.”
In addition to the arts, Zimmerman took on numerous other causes: she advocated banning the use of poison to control the city’s pigeon population, fought to save the old railway depot, and organized fundraisers for the Lawrence Community Theater. In a memorial article at the time of her death, Shimomura remarked, “I’ve never met anyone like her who was so enthusiastic and positive about life.”
