Maya Fuji

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Born in Japan and raised in the CA Bay Area, Fuji is inspired by her cultural heritage and the exploration of the liminal space she occupies as a first-generation mixed-race woman in the US. She is fascinated by traditional Japanese mythology and folklore, as well as Showa/Heisei–era subcultures, and expands on these themes within the context of her personal experiences. A recurring theme in her work is the exploration of what forms our sense of identity and how that can shift during one’s lifetime on account of generations living abroad. Imbuing the complexity of being multicultural and multiracial is central to her works, as her paintings contrast the nostalgia of childhood memories with underlying feelings of being a foreigner simultaneously navigating Japanese and American communities. She illuminates self-discovery through narration and investigation of the otherness she felt throughout her life and uses it as a catalyst to reconnect with and reclaim space within her heritage.