Vol.72 Artist : Keiko Nelson

Artist : Keiko Nelson

When I visited San Francisco recently (after being away for over 10 years),
I was reunited with artist, Keiko Nelson .
Keiko has explored the energy and spirit of nature, in powerful expressions
in handmade paper, bronze, clay, glass, stone, wood, art installations,
etchings and textiles.

Her monumental work, “Heart & Heart, San Francisco”, in the Union Square
corner has become a main attraction and the place where thousand of tourists
have their photos taken this year.

Keiko’s heart expresses the blue water surrounding San Francisco on
one side and her own world in gold on the other.

Keiko Nelson was born in Kyoto, where she was nurtured in the love of art
and nature by her mother, an Ikebana and tea ceremony Master.
She studied Fine Arts and interior, textile and graphic design in Japan.
She received a grant from the German Government to study at the University
of Hamburg, where she incorporated new views on architectural space
and design. Afterwards, she traveled extensively, winding up in San Francisco
in 1972, where influenced by the city’s legendary freedom, she flourished.
Now her work is known around the world from shows in Canada, Chile,
China, Egypt, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as, many in the United States.

I like her murals of gold or copper depicting the soul taking flight and
the round organic objects which look like vases.

Recently she has focused on large scale sculpture.

Water streams from her large sculptures in the Oakland Museum of Art

Like wise, her sculpture of the dancing Russian ballerina, Natalia Makarova
(who has many ties to San Francisco), is very elegant.

When I asked Keiko about her art, she said, “I have used many art materials
to suit the ‘skin’ of my work…stone, wood, paper, cloth, soil, clay, fiber,
feathers, bronze, aluminum…they are very sensual and organic in nature.”
When I look at Keiko’s art, it makes me want to touch it.
When I touched it, I felt like I heard voices and music from the art itself ---
and for some reason, it was comforting.

I felt the same comfort and ease about her home. From first glance,
you can tell that an artist lives there, because there are copies of the sculpture
she created for the Oakland Museum standing outside.

Her bathroom is a haven surrounded by natural crystal, such as amethyst
and rose quartz.

Keiko loves cooking and her modern kitchen is equipped with everything,
including a storage rack. From large windows, you can see a statue of Buddha
outside in the garden. Oh, I forgot to mention the special oven for pizza!

Because Keiko is a Breast Cancer Survivor, she pays strict attention to food
and tries to eat healthily and organically. “Because I have experience
breast cancer myself”, she said, “I would like to collaborate, as an artist,
with Breast Cancer Organizations on projects for their campaigns”.

Powerful and happy, Keiko Nelson will continue to send messages
from her heart to people around the world from San Francisco.