Beauty Duties (2001 – present)

This section refers to the cost of meeting societal beauty standards. Since the start of my artistic career, I’ve created prints, drawings, and sculpture that comment on the societal pressures of feminine beauty and cuteness. I often use humor and familiar visual formats to lure in the viewer and delivery my feminist message.

Themes range from makeup dominated landscapes with mascara brush trees, to patriotic beauty, to historical waxing and bleaching. See more works based on Beauty in the filterable archive…

Makeup Myriorama(twelve scenes), intaglio with watercolor, each 5 x 2.5in, by Kathy Aoki
Makeup Myriorama (detail), photopolymer intaglio with watercolor, each scene 5 x 2.5 in, 2015 by Kathy Aoki
Beauty Is Your Duty (Majorette), monotype, 30 x 22 inches, 2015 by Kathy Aoki
I Want You to Have Double D's, monotype, 30 x 22 inches, 2015 by Kathy Aoki
Beauty Is Your Duty (eagle), monotype, 22 x 30 inches, 2015 by Kathy Aoki
At the Manicurist, lino relief print with watercolor, 16 x 22 inches, 2013 by Kathy Aoki
Destruction of Glamour Palais, 2-plate linocut relief with watercolor, 12 x 15 inches, 2012 by Kathy Aoki
Pour le Bonheur des Orteils, watercolor and ink, 10x14in,2009 by Kathy Aoki
Pour Que Les Cils Soient Boucles, ink and watercolor, 10 x 14 inches, 2007 by Kathy Aoki
Tatouage Bas du Dos, ink and watercolor, 22 x 30 inches, 2009 by Kathy Aoki
Lipstick Death Memorial, papier-mache with found wood column, 48inH x 18in W x 18inD, 2020
Tiara Sphinx, recycled foam and mixed media, 18 x 20 x 11 inches, 2020 by Kathy Aoki
Beauty Sphinx Diorama, Diorama with pseudo-holographic projection,View Opening: 15in x 20.5 in; Actual diorama structure: 4 ft x 4 ft x 6 ft, 2020
Beauty Sphinx Diorama (detail of interior, diorama with pseudo-holographic projection,View Opening: 15in x 20.5 in; Actual diorama structure: 4 ft x 4 ft x 6 ft, 2020 by Kathy Aoki
The Brazilian, photopolymer intaglio, 8 x 10 inches, 2009 by Kathy Aoki
The Anal Bleaching Lesson, photopolymer intaglio, 8 x 10 inches, 2009 by Kathy Aoki
Mascara Forest No. 1, watercolor, 22 x 30 inches, 2012 by Kathy Aoki
Mascara Forest didactic wall label, from the Beauty in Landscape solo show, Swarm Gallery 2012 by Kathy Aoki
Mascara Forest No. 5, watercolor, 22 x 30 inches, 2013 by Kathy Aoki
Cult of the Cute: Night Worship, mixed media on paper, 43 x 50 inches, 2005 by Kathy AOki
Right on Schedule, Lino cut with watercolor, 14 x 15 inches (plate), 2002
Teddy Harvest, multiple plate Lino cut, 14 x 15 inches (plate), 2001 by Kathy Aoki
Battle of Kawaii , mixed media on wood with hardware and site specific wall painting, approx 20ft x 8 ft x 1.5ft, 2007
Battle of Kawaii (detail), mixed media on wood with hardware and site specific wall painting, approx 20ft x 8 ft x 1.5ft, 2007 by Kathy Aoki