Ryoko Endo | "Crescendo"

Octavia Art Gallery is pleased to present Crescendo, a solo exhibition of recent works by Ryoko Endo. Ryoko Endo (b.1951) was born into a traditional family in Fukushima, Japan and has resided in New York since 1994. With a lifetime commitment to artistic growth and expression, she initially learned traditional Sumi ink calligraphy, then later developed a more fluid method of brushwork. This is a common technique in contemporary calligraphy, yet rarely applied to the discipline of acrylic painting, which gives her work a unique energy. Endo also spent 10 years mentoring under second generation Abstract Expressionist artist, Kikuo Saito. Her studies with Saito have profoundly affected the way in which she approaches color and color relationships.

The paintings are thick with many built up layers. A careful application of opaque and translucent paint application creates a push pull effect, that draws in the viewer. A successful painting has the perfect blend of harmony and discord created by the delicate balance and conflict in between the color and brushwork employed. This duality reflects one’s experience in life. -Ryoko Endo