Lion Dance

Satsuki Shibuya’s gestural, colorful paintings are a vibrant reflection of her unique artistic process, where movement, emotion, and thought converge. Each piece bursts with energy, the fluid strokes of color weaving together to form an abstract narrative that is both personal and universal. Her bold, expressive use of color conveys a depth of feeling, capturing moments of introspection, joy, and release.

Integral to understanding Shibuya’s work is the presence of her writing. For Shibuya, writing is not separate from her painting but an essential part of her practice. The words that accompany her artworks serve as a key to unlock the full meaning behind her compositions. They offer insight into her creative journey, the internal dialogue that shapes her visual language, and the emotional currents that flow through her work. To truly appreciate Shibuya’s paintings is to engage with both the brushstrokes and the stories they tell—each layer of paint and word a step toward understanding the intricacies of her artistic vision.

Included below is her poem "Looking for Sunshine"

Looking for Sunshine

Out in the open,
when we are in search of answers,
sometimes they come swiftly,
and other times seep through our subconscious—
unbeknownst to us—an emerging image, idea, feeling, thought
that permeates our system, from the tips of our toes to the depths of our being.
This reclusive answer we seek
may be a momentary, fleeting sensation,
or a deeply rooted longing,
one that sets us apart from the rest.
A longing unsatiated by the mundane mindset of our upbringing,
but a knowing that belongs to no one except ourselves.
The knowing that makes us whole,
that brings lightness into the heaviest of days,
shining brightly even in the toughest of delays—
an eternal sunshine guiding our way toward happiness.
These fleeting moments, instilled in our hearts,
are what we search for—constantly, daily.