Sarah Brayer facts for kids

Sarah Brayer (born 1957) is an American artist. She creates art in both Japan and the United States. She is famous around the world for her unique "poured washi" paper artworks. Washi is a special type of Japanese paper. She is also known for her aquatint and woodblock prints.

In 2013, Japan's Ministry of Culture gave Sarah a special award. It was called the Bunkacho Chokan Hyosho. This award recognized her efforts to share Japanese culture through her art. She made her special paper creations using Echizen washi. Sarah currently lives in Kyoto, Japan, and New York, U.S.A.

Sarah Brayer's artwork is displayed in many important places. These include the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution's Sackler Gallery. Her art is also at the American Embassy in Tokyo. In 2012, Sarah was a featured speaker at the TED Conference in Tokyo. The event was called "The Young, the Wise, the Undiscovered."

Sarah moved to Kyoto in 1980. There, she learned etching from Yoshiko Fukuda. She also studied Japanese woodblock printing with Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1996). Toshi Yoshida was the son of the famous woodblock artist Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950). Sarah became very interested in how colors blend together. She learned this from woodblock printing. Later, she used similar blending techniques in her aquatint prints. In 1986, Brayer started making large paper artworks. She created these in Imadate, Echizen, a historic paper village in Japan.

Early Art and Inspirations

In the 1970s, Sarah Brayer became interested in Japanese art styles. She was inspired by the color aquatints of Mary Cassatt. She also liked Raku-style ceramics. When she arrived in Japan in 1979, she began her studies. She learned etching from Yoshiko Fukuda. She also studied Japanese woodblock printing with Toshi Yoshida.

In 2007, Sarah was honored in Japan. She was the first Western woman artist to have her work on the cover of the CWAJ Print Show catalog. This is a very important contemporary Japanese print show in Tokyo.

In 1985, Brayer showed her art at the Ronin Gallery in New York. The NY Times reviewed her work. They mentioned her large aquatint called Day Glow. This piece showed Charles Street in New York City at dawn. It used Japanese art techniques in a striking way.

In 1986, she opened her own print studio in Kyoto. It was in an old kimono weaving factory. That same year, she discovered the art of poured washi. This new interest led her to Echizen, a historic washi paper center. She has been working in Echizen ever since. She is the only non-Japanese artist to work continuously in this 800-year-old village. This village is home to master paper-makers.

In 1999, she received a grant from the College Women's Association of Japan (CWAJ). This helped her create a new printing technique. She used washi Japanese paper as a printing surface. Sarah's early art showed realistic city scenes and landscapes. She also painted figures or paths through snow. As she experimented more, her art became more abstract. She started showing the flow of a waterfall or the curve of a wave. She also captured the way light passes through clouds.

Special Awards and Honors

• In 2013, Japan’s Ministry of Culture gave Sarah a top award. It was for sharing Japanese culture abroad. She received it for her beautiful paper creations in Echizen washi.
• Sarah was also recognized in Japan in 1992. She was the first artist ever asked to show her work at Byodoin Temple. This temple is a World Heritage site from the Heian period. Her exhibition was part of Kyoto’s 1200-year celebration.

Art in Collections

Sarah Brayer's artwork is held in many art collections. These are places like museums and galleries. Her art can be seen in:

• The Herbert F Johnson Museum of Art
• The British Museum
• The Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian
• The Oregon Art Institute
• Zimmerli Art Museum
• Cincinnati Museum
• Rochester Memorial Art Gallery
• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
• Smith College Museum of Art
• Shimonoseki Art Museum
• Worcester Art Museum
• U.S. State Department
• U.S. Embassy, Tokyo
• Newark Public Library
• American College Board Collection
• Johns Hopkins Hospitals
• University Hospitals, Cleveland
• Citibank, Tokyo
• TRW, Los Angeles
• RJ Reynolds
• Ozumo, San Francisco
• Ozumo, Oakland

Exhibitions

Sarah Brayer has had many solo art shows. These are exhibitions where only her art is displayed. She has shown her work in many cities. These include Kyoto, New York, Cleveland, and London. She has also participated in many group exhibitions. In these shows, her art is displayed alongside other artists' work. These group shows have been held in places like San Francisco, Tokyo, and London.

See also

• Washi
• Etching
• Woodblock printing
• Tōshi Yoshida
• Hiroshi Yoshida