Title: Japanese American Women Artists of WWII Internment Camps Featured in Traveling Exhibition
Ibuki Hibi Lee fondly remembers the sound of her mother’s paintbrush hitting the canvas in their small New York City apartment. Her mother, Hisako Hibi, was a talented artist who pursued her passion despite the challenges she faced as a Japanese American woman in the aftermath of World War II.
After being incarcerated at an internment camp in Utah during the war, the Hibi family moved to New York City in 1945 to start anew. Hisako Hibi, a dressmaker by day, would wake up early to paint before work, leaving a lasting impression on her daughter.
Despite the family’s struggles to make ends meet, Hisako Hibi continued to create art, receiving recognition throughout her career but never reaching the same level of fame as her male counterparts. Now, 32 years after her passing, her work is being showcased in the “Pictures of Belonging” exhibition, alongside the artwork of two other Japanese American women from the pre-World War II generation.
The exhibition debuted at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in Salt Lake City and will travel to prestigious museums across the country, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibit features the work of Hibi, Miki Hayakawa, and Miné Okubo, all of whom were either incarcerated or had family members interned during the war.
During their time in internment camps, many Japanese Americans turned to art as a source of comfort and expression. The Topaz Art School was established within the camps, where artists like Hibi and Okubo taught classes in drawing. The exhibit showcases some of the artwork created during this challenging period, highlighting the resilience and perseverance of the artists.
Dr. ShiPu Wang, the curator of the exhibit, emphasizes the importance of not defining these artists solely by their internment experience. He hopes that visitors will leave the exhibit with a deeper understanding of the artists’ lives and careers, seeing the full journey of their artistic evolution.
As the exhibition travels across the country, it sheds light on the often overlooked contributions of Japanese American women artists from the WWII era. Through their art, these women found a way to make sense of their experiences and leave a lasting legacy that continues to inspire audiences today.
