Profile

 She was born in Japan almost simultaneously with the end of WWII. From elementary school, she impressed her entourage with her precocious skills in painting. Right when she was graduating from college, she was noticed by Junichi Nakahara (1913-1983), who is considered the godfather of Manga/Anime art. Kiiko became Junichi Nakahara’s only ever apprentice and his daughter in law. Kiiko Nakahara then went on a career as an artist, illustrator, dress and costume designer. She moved out of Japan in 1993 and has lived in Hawaii since 2000. Junichi Nakahara, who was himself inspired by Yumeji Takehisa (1884-1934), painted young, pure, innocent, cute girls. But Kiiko is painting adult women sheared from the inside through the eyes of a woman. And after living outside Japan for around 30 years, she could capture the sensuality and the beauty of the Japanese woman more clearly than when she lived in Japan. Critics who know Kiiko Nakahara assert that she has developed her own style, and her paintings are so characteristic. The eyes are very striking, the use of colors, intricate details, texture, kimono’s impressions all make for a very unusual and sensitive style focused around the subtle and overwhelming beauty of the Japanese women.