Nana Funo

Born in1983, Shizuoka Japan. Nano Funo creates intricate, multi-layered paintings full of mythic and folklore motifs. She paints with acrylic as a base, draws with pens, applies gesso to create stains and gradations, and adds motifs with acrylic paint again. These layers, produced by repetitive masking, consist of decorative patterns, animals and plants, figures and landscapes, and give an incomparable texture to her work. Her delicate and repetitive motifs are like an endless kaleidoscope. The intensity and scale of her motifs remain the same in her paintings, whether they are as large as 13 feet (4 meter) or as small as 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm). It is as if she can expand on her work, as long as there is room on her canvas. Funo draws inspirations from the imaginary and fantastic worlds in which she has indulged since childhood. Her drawing notebooks, another source of inspiration, carry the same intensity. Like a diary, she fills it with drawing brought from her feelings in daily life or memorable incidents, all of which will potentially develop into paintings.

Education
2008?M.F.A. Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan
2006?B.F.A. Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan

Awards
2009?Nominee for VOCA award, Japan.
2008?Tomio Koyama Jury’s Award at Tokyo Art Award

Collection
Takamatsu City Museum of Art
The JAPIGOZZI Collection

Twitter
@funonana

Gallery
Tomio Koyama Gallery