Where is Beauty?/ Artist Statement
Sachiyo Yoshida

“People are looking for something beautiful, so they go to museums and galleries. However, many people are disappointed not to find they want to see. They are asking, “where is beauty?”- Christina Bechstein

As an artist, my task is to answer the question: where is beauty. Beauty can be at libraries, schools, city halls, coffee shops, and homes. One of the best ways to let people know where they can find beauty is to have art workshops in local communities. The participants discover that beautiful things can be created from their hands. Beauty can be found in familiar places.

Subtlety in my work is the thing that I enjoy and at the same time I struggle with when I show my work. The United States is a much more expressive country than my country, Japan. The implication of small gestures cannot always be read.
The communication between the audience in America and me through my work can be frustrating for both. At the same time, my work is a tool that bridges the cultural gap. Practicing art in the United States pushes me to be more expressive.

My figurative work is finding and capturing precious moments in the subjects' history and background. Human form is the simplest one to represent humanity, which reminds the audience compassion.

My art based on community is reflection of myself, especially my desire for spiritual connections and better communication. They are what I regard as powerfully beautiful things.