Miyoko Ito: Heart of Hearts

Discover the exquisite and thought-provoking masterpieces of a lesser-known Japanese American abstract artist.

A New York Times 'Best Art Books of 2023' pick

Heart of Hearts is the culmination of extensive research, offering a comprehensive look into the life and artistic contributions of Japanese American creator Miyoko Ito. Growing up in Berkeley, California with Japanese heritage, Ito honed her skills in watercolor at the University of California, Berkeley. During her final year, she was detained at the Tanforan Assembly Center, a holding camp near San Francisco, and later continued her studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Unlike her contemporaries, Ito's abstract works often reference natural scenes, interiors, and the human form. Her unique technique involves layering colors horizontally to create a gradual, ombre effect reminiscent of a sunset. With a meticulous working process, Ito dedicated herself to painting, often working from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. “I have no place to take myself except painting,” she confided in a 1978 interview, “it has been my biggest life-giving force.”

While Ito's masterful paintings have garnered critical acclaim through exhibitions at prestigious venues like Matthew Marks Gallery, Artists Space, and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, her enigmatic and sophisticated abstract works remain relatively unknown outside of her home in Chicago, where she lived and worked for most of her illustrious career. Compiled by Pre-Echo Press and curated by Jordan Stein, Heart of Hearts showcases over 100 stunning full-color plates, rare archival materials, a revealing 1978 interview with the artist, and a comprehensive 5,000-word biographical essay that expertly situates Ito's art within the larger context of postwar American art.

Miyoko Ito, born in Berkeley, California, in 1918, to Japanese parents, discovered her passion for calligraphy and painting during her childhood in Japan. She showcased her talents in the prestigious 1975 Whitney Biennial and later received a retrospective exhibition at the exclusive Renaissance Society in 1980. Ito's works are proudly displayed in the collections of renowned institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.