EXHIBITION
ETSUKO KAJI-HOLLE - Flower Power
On view from: July 7th - Aug 29 2026
Born in Tokyo, Etsuko began practicing ballet, piano, and painting from a young age, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Western Fine Art. She has also practiced traditional Japanese arts, including Ike bana and Tea-ceremony, and worked as a translator at Kobayashi Art Gallery in Ginza, surrounded by renowned artists.
After a corporate career in big cities, Etsuko is now a full-time artist on Vancouver Island, drawing inspiration from nature, organic shapes, and memory. Her brush strokes are influenced by Japanese calligraphy and the Ki (internal energy) cultivated through her regular yoga practice. She works primarily in acrylics, along with charcoal, pencil, and pastel, often experimenting with unconventional tools sourced from kitchen cabinets and thrift stores.
In 2024, Etsuko completed a month-long Artist Residency with the Association of Tournefou in a small French village, producing a body of work later shown at the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Centre. Her paintings can be found at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Ladysmith Art Gallery, Cowichan Valley Art Council, and Piggy & Paisley tea house, as well as juried shows and markets across Vancouver Island.
For updates and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.etsukok.art or follow @etsukokart on Instagram.
Artist Statement
“I’m happy when I’m painting. I like it.” —Joan Mitchell
Growing up in Tokyo, singing, dancing, drawing, and painting gave me joy and a way to express my feelings. Even during the busiest years of a corporate career, I always made time to create.
Now, as a full-time painter on Vancouver Island, I find myself drawn especially to abstract form — it lets me express freely and intuitively. I admire the nature around me and observe closely how it changes. Facing a canvas with my brushes and tools connects me to nature and to my sense of the world. Making intuitive marks and layers on a surface is, for me, a meditative journey.
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EXHIBITION ARTWORK
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You’re Invited
ON VIEW:
July 7th - Aug 29 2026
HOURS:
10am-4pm Mon- Sat
LOCATION:
The Old School House Arts Centre - Upstairs Gallery
Admission is free:
As a non-profit charity, we rely on the generosity of our visitors. Please consider a donation of $10 per person (or any amount you’re able to give) to help keep art thriving in our community.
Donate online here, or tap the
terminal at the front desk.