Hanako Murakami

Hanako Murakami is a Canadian artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She was born in Japan and moved to Canada at a young age. Murakami received her BFA from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver and her MFA from the University of Guelph.

Murakami's work often explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural displacement. She works across various media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and installation. Murakami's work often incorporates imagery from Japanese popular culture, as well as traditional Japanese motifs and aesthetics.

One of Murakami's ongoing projects is a series of large-scale drawings titled "Emaki," which are inspired by Japanese scroll paintings. The drawings incorporate both traditional and contemporary imagery and explore themes of migration, displacement, and cultural hybridity.

In addition to her studio practice, Murakami is also a curator and writer. She has curated exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Guelph, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto.

Murakami's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan. She has also been the recipient of numerous awards, including grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.