Long captivated by the beauty and elegance of the female spirit, Coco Masuda’s graceful works on paper emanate an irrepressible joie de vivre and elegance of form. Working in a sophisticated palette of crisp colors and flattened, cut-out forms reminiscent of traditional Asian decorative art, Masuda’s works project a festive atmosphere of refinement and elegance. Uplifting the soul and entertaining the eye, each piece is also technically stunning, with an adept use of negative space, beautifully simplified form, asymmetrical balance, and freedom of gesture. Whether capturing the seductive lines of a woman’s back or the movement of the wind as it sweeps against the night sky, Masuda flexibly applies her confident touch to paper, letting her artistic voice resonate from the surface.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Coco Masuda is a graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design. Having achieved major success as an illustrator and graphic designer, Masuda now lives and works in New York.
I am eternally fascinated with beauty of women. Living in New York, I am fortunate to be able to observe women of different races and skin colors daily. When I walk by, or ride in subway with a woman of striking beauty, she leaves an impression on my mind. In recent years, I have been fascinated by young Japanese women, and they became the subject of my artwork. I also like flowers, leaves and still lifes. I usually draw from my memory, imagining a woman with personality. I give her a name and she becomes a real person. I paint with acrylic, or mixed media, on paper or board.
