Joanne Aono Interview

Bio: Joanne Aono is a Japanese American Sansei artist, born in Chicago. She received a BFA from Drake University with post graduate classes through the SAIC. Solo and two person exhibitions of her paintings and drawings include South Shore Arts, Images Gallery, Eyeporium Gallery, Dayton Street, and 303 Erie Artspace, with an upcoming solo show at the Lee Dulgar Gallery. Joanne has shown in numerous group exhibitions including Julius Caesar, Contemporary Art Workshop, Governor’s State University, Woman Made Gallery, Beverly Art Center, Northern Illinois University, and Art Chicago International. She has received City of Chicago Arts grants in addition to a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts fellowship. Her art has been reviewed in publications such as ArtLetter, NewCity, Northwest Indiana Times, and the Huffington Post. “The dualities of being a Japanese American as well as an identical twin are underlying themes in my art. I use visual and conceptual pairings to depict these contrasts and similarities of maintaining a collective identity while projecting a sense of individuality. Text in my art is Influenced by Japanese calligraphic forms and the hidden meanings that words possess. The writings are obscured, exploring interpretation, memory, knowledge, reading, and retention.” – bio courtesy of the artist. www.JoanneAono.co