2024/7/28/ Inspired by Edo: 50 finalists of national student art competition to be exhibited at Descanso Gardens in July and Japan Foundation in August, September

The Inspired by Edo exhibition at the Boddy House in Descanso Gardens from July 6–28.

The Inspired by Edo exhibition at Japan Foundation’s LA Gallery from August 5 – September 28.

During the Edo era (1603-1868), Japanese artists innovated techniques to bring all of nature to striking life. Because the artists saw themselves as belonging to nature, not above it, they opened their eyes and their hearts to the spirits inhabiting puppies, fish, trees and horses, depicting them as enchantingly alive.

Inspired by Edo 2024 is a national art competition based on the Smithsonian’s Investigating Japan’s Edo Avant Garde curriculum which engages students in grades 1-12 in non-Western art.

Participants took inspiration from the documentary film, Edo Avant Garde by Linda Hoaglund. Students submitted original artwork depicting natural creatures with distinctive, often playful personalities. The students opened their hearts and minds to Edo depictions of nature, composing their own artworks that are enchantingly alive.

Hollis Goodall, Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s former Japanese art curator and E. Roon Kang, Chair of Graphic Design at California College of Art judged 230 submissions from students in 27 states, selecting the attached 50 finalists.

The finalists artworks will be professionally framed and installed, first in the Descanso Gardens’ Boddy House, July 6 – July 28, then in the Japan Foundation’s LA Gallery, August 5 – September 28.