Diane Masuda

I am a printmaker, painter, and digital artist interested in political/socio-economic and psychological topics. I believe in the ethical treatment of animals and people. I love our fragile and beautiful environment. Subject matter ranges from Canada Geese, Grackles to Tokyo Rose, all who have suffered injustices with regard to immigration and a sense of belonging. I am interested in spiritual battles of addiction and advertising campaigns that manipulate audiences through glamorization of substance abuse.

I received my BFA Studio Arts + BA Art History concurrently from the University of Hawaii and my MFA in Printmaking at the School of the Art Institue of Chicago. I am now in Austin, Texas. I have taught at Dominican University, American Academy of Art, Columbia College, The Illinois Institute of Art, Art Institute of Austin and am currently at ACC.

My images are sculptural - I edit and combine objects to create an iconographic image for an idea. I am influenced by Oceanic, African Art, Mexican and Asian art for form and messaging. I admire Max Beckman and Otto Dix for imagery that reveals ills of society.   

My digital work -created in Illustrator evolves from drawings or paintings. Sometimes I work in reverse using computer results to create variations in paintings or drawings. 

The digital works are tied to traditional printmaking techniques in terms of color variations, artist proofs and numbering. I utilize conceptual graphic communication systems such as suggestive selling with object association and implied meaning for multiple statements. Printing on various materials such as metals, plastics and papers add dimension to a concept. 

Smoke Project - ‘TDS’ is current work dedicated to my worry about the state of our beloved nation. It is chaos + horror represented with an anti-esthetic and unfinished set of paintings.

All images subject to Copyright
dmasuda512@gmail.com  Cell: 773.983.7633

AMALGAMATION