Etsuko Ichikawa: Vitrified

Since 2011, driven by the devastation caused by the nuclear incident at Fukushima, Etsuko Ichikawa has explored the various impacts of human existence on our environment. By researching deeply the ancient artifacts left by her Japanese ancestors, she was struck by the contrast of what we might leave buried in the ground for future generations. In her recent body of work, Vitrified, Ichikawa uses photography, film, glass sculptures and works on paper to express the fluidity of our life sustaining elements, and the urgency to protect them.
Ichikawa has completed several artist in residence programs at the Pilchuck Glass School and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. She has been recognized by the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work has exhibited both nationally and internationally, including The Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo, the Henry Art Museum and Seattle Art Museum. Vitrified was supported in part by 4Culture Art Projects Grants and the Pratt Fine Arts Center Edwin T. Pratt Scholarship.