Mayuko Ono Gray

Reflecting a life that is both culturally Japanese and American, Mayuko Ono Gray’s graphite drawings hybridize influences from traditional Japanese calligraphy combined with Western techniques, such as chiaroscuro and sfumato. Gray’s artistic practice uniquely follows the path of traditional Asian art-forms, which often integrate word and image. In her work, Gray uses images of people, animals, and still-lifes captured in her daily experiences; and more recently, she has begun incorporating bubbles throughout the image. The bubbles in her artwork represent energy emitted by atoms and also signify the soul or the spirit, which is encompassed by one’s physical form. Moreover, Gray assigns a matching Japanese proverb to go with the image, which is spelled out with hiragana and kanji characters intertwined to create a single strand. The beginning and end of this calligraphic line is a metaphor for life and death, with the middle representing the complicated path taken in between. The proverbs are short and poetic, yet powerful and true, confirming the perpetual nature of humanity and resonating timeless wisdom.

Mayuko Ono Gray earned a BFA in Painting in 2004 and a MFA in Painting in 2007 from the University of Houston. Most recently, her work has been featured nationally in solo exhibitions in Texas as well as the Visalia Art Center in 2023 (Visalia, CA), the Goggle Works Center for the Arts in 2022 (Reading, PA), and the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in 2022 (Fond du Lac, WI). In addition, her work has been exhibited in various group shows throughout Texas and internationally in Japan, Italy, Greece, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Gray’s work was listed by the Beaumont Enterprise and Glasstire Texas on each of their “Best-of 2022” lists for exhibitions in Texas. Gray was the Art Gallery Director at College of the Mainland Art Gallery from 2011-2022 and the Adjunct Professor of Art at College of the Mainland from 2008-2022 (Texas City, TX). Gray served as an Instructor at the Glassell School of Art (Houston) in 2022. She is also currently exhibiting at Arts Fort Worth (Fort Worth, TX) and has an upcoming show at the Galveston Arts Center (Galveston, TX).

View current exhibition (2023): http://www.hooksepsteingalleries.com/dont-push-the-river

Artist's CV: 

目に入れてもいたくない_Eye Candy

"目に入れてもいたくない_Eye Candy", 2022, graphite on paper, 41 1/2 x 41 1/2"

形あるものいつかこわれる_Anything...

Mayuko Ono Gray, "形あるものいつかこわれる_Anything that takes a form will break sooner or later (45)", 2024, graphite on paper, 41 x 41"

Pulsating still Life...

"Pulsating Still Life_Mangos in Oaxaca", 2022, graphite on paper, 26 x 40"

Pulsating still Life...

"Pulsating Still Life_Composition in Clear", 2021, graphite on paper, 41 1/2 x 59 1/2"

かわいさあまってにくさ百倍_Annoyed Cat

"かわいさあまってにくさ百倍_Annoyed Cat", 2022, graphite on paper, 59 x 41"

Recalibration_3-27-22

"Recalibration_3-27-22", 2022, graphite on paper, 41 x 41"

Sold Inventory

Anything that takes a...

Anything that takes a form will break sooner or later, 2016, graphite on paper, 13 x 17"

Accurate calculation...

Accurate calculation but no money 勘定あって銭足らず (You think you have your life well planned, but it never seems to unfold the way you expected), 2014, graphite on paper, 14 x 7 1/4”

I Cannot Live Without ...

I Cannot Live Without ____., 2012, graphite on paper, glass mirror, 21 x 9 3/4"

I Want To Accomplish _...

I Want To Accomplish ____ Before I Die., 2012, graphite on paper, glass mirror, 20 x 21"

There are those who...

There are those who read books and others who write them.  I am of those who ____., 2011, graphite on paper, 20 x 10"

If I Am Going To Die...

If I Am Going To Die Tomorrow, Today I Want To ______., 2011, graphite on paper, glass mirror, 21 x 10 1/4"

I Will Always Want To...

I Will Always Want To Be Someone Who Is ____., 2011, graphite on paper, glass mirror, 13 x 9 3/4"

You won't gain a...

You won't gain a baby tiger unless you enter a tiger's nest, 2011, graphite on paper, 11 1/2 x 9"

The Midnight Swimmer

The Midnight Swimmer, 2009, ink on paper, 9 1/2 x 8 3/4"

Summer Night

Summer Night, 2009, ink on paper, 5 3/4 x 5 1/2"

Emptiness 2

Emptiness 2, 2009, ink on paper, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4"

Weeping Butterfly

Weeping Butterfly, 2009, ink on paper, 5 1/4 x 3 3/4"

Where Are My Missing...

Where Are My Missing Pieces of Puzzles?, 2008-09, ink on paper, 5 x 3 1/4"

The Cost of Cliche

The Cost of Cliche, 2008, ink on paper, 9 x 7 1/2"