奥野 智子

1991年、神奈川県横浜市生まれ。東京のサービスデザインスタジオに勤務後、アーティスト活動を志し2021年に米国ロサンゼルスのArtCenter College of Designへの留学で渡米、2024年に首席で卒業。在学中から直近まで、PaintingとCeramic Sculptureを主とするアーティストとして、ロサンゼルスを中心とした米国のギャラリーにて個展やグループ展等で活動。自身の飼っている猫や、動物園での出会い、神社の動物像、世界中の民藝品、ギリシャ・エジプト・メキシコなどの古代芸術などにインスピレーションを受け、Guardianをテーマにした動物・想像上の生き物を描く具象的な作品を制作する。2025年末に日本に帰国し、2026年4月より信楽に拠点を移す。

Satoko Okuno (b. 1991, Yokohama, Japan) is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, ceramic sculpture, and printmaking. Okuno explores intimate dialogues between herself and the creatures she conjures, ranging from familiar animals to whimsical, imaginary beings. Drawing inspiration from her two cats, encounters at the zoo, Shinto shrines, folk art from around the world, and ancient art forms like Greek pottery and Egyptian sculptures, she creates vibrant mixed-media paintings and glazed stoneware sculptures, transforming these creatures into guardians—sentinels of comfort and protection.

She received her BFA from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA, as Valedictorian of the Class of Spring 2024. Okuno’s work has been exhibited at venues including Thinkspace Projects (Los Angeles, CA), La Luz de Jesus Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), the Trophy Room LA (Los Angeles, CA), HeyThere Projects (Joshua Tree, CA), Alto Beta Gallery (Altadena, CA), the Hive Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), Gallery Nucleus (Alhambra, CA), Pamplemousse Gallery (Richmond, VA), and aquabitArt galerie (Berlin, Germany). Her work has been featured in publications such as American Craft Magazine, JUXTAPOZ Art & Culture, and Munchies Art Club. Okuno currently lives and works in Shigaraki, Shiga, Japan.