Manami Ishimura was born in Tokyo, Japan, received her BFA degree in sculpture at Tama Art University in Japan in 2012 and earned her MFA degree in sculpture and ceramics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2018. Her handwork strives to depict the ephemeral beauty of moments that generally go unseen.

Ishimura conceptually addresses the cultural social issue using an extensive approach sculpture to space to generate emphatic aesthetic crossing cultures. Her art practice is a wide range from temporary installation to public art. Ishimura’s continued exploration of ways to celebrate universality of art across cultures led her to exhibit both nationally and internationally including at Biwako Binnale, Shiga, Japan, Gallery C at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, Louisiana. She contributed a permanent public art piece as a Windgate Artist in Residence at Arkansas Tech University.

Areas of Expertise

Sculpture, Installation, Contemporary Art Practice

Education

2018 — Master of Fine Arts from Texas A&M University at Corpus

Courses Recently Taught

This course presents an introduction to three-dimensional art through exploration of its basic elements (line, plane, mass and color) and its basic ordering principles (unity, balance, rhythm and dominance). Students explore sculpture techniques through figurative modeling, digital fabrication, and familiarizing the equipment in the woodshop. As students learn how to use the tools and equipment in the Sculpture Studios, proper care for the tools and space in addition to professional finish and presentation are expected. The course format includes slide lectures, group critiques and individual instruction. Material purchases are the responsibility of each student. This counts toward the introductory course requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Offered each semester.

In this course, students are expected to create at least three sculpture projects such as figure modeling, mold making, welding, digital fabrication, and/or their own projects. An instructor gives step-by-step assignments and homework following the content of projects. Students are familiarized with sculptural techniques and the equipment through the projects. The course is designed to facilitate the development of ideas that contribute to the artist’s content and decision-making process, as well as the development of the applied skills needed to manifest these ideas. As students work on projects, this development is paired with research on artists and exercises for writing short artist statements. Ideas and the ability to articulate them verbally are crucial in the understanding of self-expression. Throughout the term, we critically analyze and interpret sculptural works of art both verbally in critiques and through written assignments. This counts toward an intermediate-level course required for the major. Prerequisite: ARTS 103.

This first semester of a two-semester sequence is designed to enable students to develop their personal artistic vision based on the foundation of introductory and intermediate studio art courses. Students are expected to develop a self-generated body of creative work based on a concentrated investigation of materials, methods and ideas. They develop oral and written presentation and research skills as they work toward a professional exhibition in the second semester. Critiques, discussions, presentations and readings provide context and feedback for this process. Students learn to develop the elements necessary for professional exhibition of a cohesive body of work, including developing ideas, writing an artist's statement and resume, and perfecting presentation skills. Studio art majors are expected to take this class and ARTS 481 with two different faculty members. This course is required for studio art majors. Senior art majors only. Offered every fall.