In 2001, Yumi came to Alaska as a student to study Wildlife Biology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In 2006, she graduated with a degree, got married to someone with an incredible dog named Pierce, and has been living in Fairbanks ever since.
When Pierce slowed down with cancer, Yumi quit working in the field away from home and decided to stay with him and start making art. She started creating his prints as she tried to overcome the sadness of his passing in 2010. Yumi has been calling herself a Printmaker ever since. Pierce made her an artist.
Yumi creates art by hand pressing hand-carved woodblocks onto Japanese papers, Washi, through a traditional woodcut printmaking process. Each print is original with slight variations based on ink applications and multiple layers of different colors. Her art is inspired by nature and the wildlife she's witnessed over years of experience in the field working as well as many camping trips with her husband and their dogs.
Her favorite subjects are those which not many people recognize or have ever seen. She tries to share her observation, knowledge and imagination to express both what she saw and felt in this incredible land in the far north.
Yumi creates prints to bring a smile to your daily life and to connect people to nature and wildlife in Alaska. She hopes you enjoy her art as much as she does.
Yumi Kawaguchi, Amy Mackinaw, and Amy Johnson were part of the 2021 Alaska State Parks Artist-In-Residence Program. Together, they stayed at the Gruening Cabin near Amalga Harbor in Juneau and created art inspired by their experience. Yumi, Amy, and Amy are also our June 2022 Featured Artists.
