K. IKEDA

 

 

Kanetaka Ikeda 　 池田兼隆（ケン・イケダ）

U S citizen
Resident City: Portland, Oregon 

 

 

About Myself:

 

I am a sculptor who works mainly in a mix media assemblage process and utilizes wooden branch  and cotton fiber as a primary material.   I also work with other mediums and processes including wood carvings".

, ink drawings, acrylic paintings and installation works.

 

 

 Theme of Work

 

For the last thirty years or so, my work has been inspired from vivid, memorable dreams that I experienced during the late 80's and early 90's, and from resulting thoughts accumulated through years of pondering over meaning behind these dreams.   From this, I have created something of a personal myth in a visual form which I titled, " the Cosmic Tree of Life".

 

 

  Background

 

I was born in Japan in a prefecture of Kagoshima at the southern end of Japanese archipelago, but immigrated to Oregon early in my childhood.  While being raised in N.W Portland, as youth, I experienced American life of the 60's and 70's.  In college, I briefly studied architecture at Oregon State University and University of Oregon, but found the subject unsuitable for my inclination. After transferring to Portland State University and taking classes in sculpture, I became fascinated with the subject and decided to make this my career.  As student, I learned primarily from a noted bronze sculptor, James Hansen and carver, Don Wilson.   Upon graduation I joined the artist operated gallery, Blackfish gallery in Portland and started my professional career as an artist. For much of the 80's, I have exhibited and participated in various art related activities in Portland. However, around 1988, I moved to Sapporo, Japan where I spent time creating and exhibiting artwork while teaching sculpture at Dohto University, a private university there.  After twenty years in Japan, I returned to Oregon, and rejoined Blackfish Gallery soon after.  Currently while living in Portland, I found myself enjoying creating artworks and exhibiting them in Northwest art scene.   

 

Curriculum Vitae

Artist Statement