Grace Munakata
Propellers, 2011
acrylic and mixed media on gatorboard
48 1/8 x 34 1/2 in.
I would like my paintings and collages to become a place where attention shifts and refocuses, a bit like the experience of walking in a wood where one notices the shadow moving before the bird. The pieces hint at but contradict landscape space, and always contain some kind of weather where shapes float, drift, stack and move. For me they become specific places, where fragments, knots and stitches carry stories.
GRACE MUNAKATA
EDUCATION
1985
MFA, Emphasis-Painting/Drawing, University of California, Davis, CA
1984
Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
1980
BA, Studio Art, Phi Beta Kappa, University of California, Davis, CA
TEACHING
Professor Emerita, Painting & Drawing, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2022
Morris Graves Foundation, Loleta, CA
2020
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Cascade Head, OR
2019
Monson Arts Residency, Monson Arts, Maine
2018
Skaftfell Artist Residency, Center for Visual Arts, Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland
2017
Lucid Art Residency, Inverness, CA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
Grace Munakata: Biology of Flight, Anglim Trimble Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016
Grace Munakata: Recent Paintings and Collage, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014
Grace Munakata: Paintings, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013
Paintings, B. Sakata Garo Gallery, Sacramento, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Where Things Begin: 10 American Artists of the Asian Diaspora, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2024
Contemporary Asian American Abstraction, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Summer Group Exhibition: Find the Connections, Anglim/Trimble, San Francisco, CA
2023
XX: An exhibition of women artists, Anglim Trimble Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2022
Dancing with Charlie: Bay Area Art from the Campbell Collection, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA
2021
Wayne Thiebaud Influencer: A New Generation, Manetti Shrem Museum, University of California, Davis, CA
Making Their Mark, Anne Loucks Gallery, Glencoe, IL
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Mr. & Mrs. Trevor Foster, St. Helena, CA
Linda Aldrich, San Francisco
Tom Konopiots, Chicago, IL
Peggy and Willis Newton, San Francisco, CA
Lifelong Medical Care, Berkeley CA
Estate of JESS and Robert Duncan
Jonathon Wells, Chicago IL
Manuel Neri, Benicia, CA
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Thom W. Weisel, San Francisco, CA
Fine Arts Collection, University of California Davis
Paul Thiebaud Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Nancy & Paul Pelosi, Washington, D.C.
Joan Roebuck, Lafayette, CA
Hewlett-Packard Co., Roseville, CA
Bank of America, San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Federal Savings San Francisco, CA
Silicon Valley Bank, San Jose, CA
Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA
Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Winters, CA
Estate of Ruth Braunstein, San Francisco, CA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2024
Mark Van Proyen, "Contemporary Asian-American Abstraction at Paul Thiebaud", Squarecylinder, June 26, 2024
2016
Chun, Kimberly, “Group show to honor gallery owner Ruth Braunstein”, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan, 27, 2016
2014
Kenneth Baker, "Grace Munakata's Abstracts- At 1st Glance", San Francisco Chronicle, March 8, 2014
2013
Einspruch, Franklin, “Lil’ Older Sister Comes of Age: Miami before Basel”, Art Critical, Dec. 8, 2013
Dalkey, Victoria, “Artist mixes abstraction, pattern, imagery”, Sacramento Bee, June 14, 2013
2012
Ryce, Walter, “Trancendental Vision Inspires Ambiguity, Contemplation and Quiet”, Monterey County Weekly, January 26, 2012
2011
Baker, Kenneth, “Simulations, substances and humor" "Munakata's Graces" San Francisco Chronicle, July 2, 2011
2009
Victoria Dalkey, "A dogged search...for home", Sacramento Bee, April 10, 2009
David Roth, "Grace Munakata @ b. sakata garo", *Square Cylinder", April 19, 2009
2008
Victoria Dalkey, “Mastery’s on the line…” Sacramento Bee, September 19
2005
Jordan Essoe, “Grace Munakata at Braunstein/Quay Gallery”, cover image and review, Artweek, May
2003
2003 Barbara Morris, "Cut, Copy, Paste: The Art of Contemporary Collage" at the de Saisset Museum Artweek
Victoria Dalkey, “Critic’s Pick, James Kaneko Gallery.” Sacramento Bee, December 7.
2000
Victoria Dalkey, "Rich Study in Contradictions...” Sacramento Bee, Nov 5.
Steven Jenkins, “2000 Faculty Exhibition”, Artweek, March.
1996
Julie Allen, Arts Programming Producer, PBS, KRCB, Rohnert Park, CA “Expressions l996”, video profiles of 5 Bay Area artists.
1994
Alan M. Gordon, “Flatlanders: Sacramento Valley School”, Artweek, February 3.
1992
Warren Dreher, Marti Klinkner & Carol Fowler, “Rodeo, A Studio Community”, essays published by the Bedford Gallery, Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek.
Nancy Steele, “Strait Reflections”. Diablo Arts Magazine, May.
1991
Marilyn Moyle, Art Review, Davis Enterprise March 24.
Carol Fowler, “Artists’ Enclave”. West County Times, August 4.
1989
Kenneth Baker. “Painters attack images from different angles.” San Francisco Chronicle, September 1.
Bruce Nixon. “The Constant Light”. Artweek. July 1.
Tony Chan. “Another Day in America” Video
1988
Victoria Dalkey. “Varying Visions”. Sacramento Bee, March 20.
1986
David Winter.“Introductions‘86.Artnews, Oct.
Victoria Dalkey, “Memories sifted...” Sacramento Bee, October 5.
Del McColm. “Rare Landscape Exhibits”. Davis Enterprise, September 25.
Victoria Dalkey. “Meetings by the Bay”. Sacramento Bee, July.
1985
Joanne Burstein Hays. “Visions from Special Places”. Artweek, May.
Ellen Schlesinger. “Basking in Basics: Exhibits of Hard-won Mastery in Davis”. Sacramento Bee, June.
