From left: Co-curator Ana Iwataki, Nancy Uyemura and community activist Miya Iwataki (Ana’s aunt).

Los Angeles native Nancy Uyemura’s retrospective, “Nancy 2024,” opened Oct. 6 at LA Artcore, located in Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St. in Little Tokyo, and closes Sunday, Oct. 27.

Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m., and by appointment.

Nancy Uyemura with a photo of herself (date unknown) used for the “Nancy 2024” exhibition.

“The exhibit — spanning painting, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture — reflects almost six decades of her kaleidoscopic practice,” said LA Artcore Executive Director Pranay Reddy. “The work on view offers glimpses of her inquiries into nature, spirituality, Japanese (American) culture, and the many Asian American and Downtown Los Angeles communities she has been part of.

“This is a particularly special project for us: Nancy and LA Artcore founder Lydia Takeshita met in the early 1980s when Artcore established itself on Mateo Street. Uyemura and her mentor, the late Matsumi ‘Mike’ Kanemitsu, were the first Japanese American residents in the nearby 800 Traction Ave. artists’ studio building, where she co-founded Gallery IV. She exhibited regularly at LA Artcore until Lydia’s passing in 2019.

“In addition to being active in the Little Tokyo community arts, Uyemura has been recognized for her public artworks and support of various local arts initiatives.

“I am thrilled to have been supported by Ana Iwataki and Gino Abrajano, who took the curatorial lead to give extra resonance and context to this groundbreaking exhibit for Nancy, LA Artcore, and the Little Tokyo community.” 

Above and below: Nancy Uyemura’s works on display span painting, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture.

“This exhibition is a memoir of sorts — my life growing up in L.A. and becoming involved in the arts,” Uyemura wrote. “It’s specific to my world — the Japanese American world of post-World War II Los Angeles. And more precisely how and why I became an artist. A memento to LIVE LIFE, not so much a memento mori…

“Mottainaiis a favorite saying in our community — we save what we think has value and sometimes we never use the things we think are special. Aren’t we special? Isn’t this moment special? Wear the Sunday clothes and use the special dishes, for this moment is special and we want to experience it all.”

The run of the exhibit also included a walking tour of Uyemura’s public artworks in Litle Tokyo and a launch for the booklet edited by Iwataki and Abrajano.

For more information, call (213) 617-3274 or visit http://laartcore.org.

Photos by J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo