Expanding Into Self

Satsuki Shibuya’s gestural, colorful paintings are a vibrant reflection of her unique artistic process, where movement, emotion, and thought converge. Each piece bursts with energy, the fluid strokes of color weaving together to form an abstract narrative that is both personal and universal. Her bold, expressive use of color conveys a depth of feeling, capturing moments of introspection, joy, and release.

Integral to understanding Shibuya’s work is the presence of her writing. For Shibuya, writing is not separate from her painting but an essential part of her practice. The words that accompany her artworks serve as a key to unlock the full meaning behind her compositions. They offer insight into her creative journey, the internal dialogue that shapes her visual language, and the emotional currents that flow through her work. To truly appreciate Shibuya’s paintings is to engage with both the brushstrokes and the stories they tell—each layer of paint and word a step toward understanding the intricacies of her artistic vision.

In Shibuya's Words:

As we live our lives,
we may perceive set backs, unexpected outcomes,
as failures.

Deflated,
our self worth plummets,
identifying as under developed beings,
questioning our existence.

But, what may seem as misfortune,
may actually be an opportunity in disguise,
just as the sun peeks brilliantly, glistening gold,
through the stormy clouds.

Truths understood as facts,
may actually be false-truths,
a holographic reality,
viewed from a one-dimensional telescope.

When we accept the truth of no absolutes —
all being visible and accepted from various angles,
can we align through our hearts,
coming Full Circle, being interconnected as one.