MAYA FUJI "KAMI/髪/神"

Opening Reception: Friday, May 27, 6-9PM
Showing: May 27 - July 2, 2022

Voss Gallery
3344 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

Painting of two Japanese girls and peace signs by Maya Fuji available at Voss Gallery, San Francisco.

Voss Gallery presents “Kami/髪/神,” a solo exhibition of figurative illustrations by Maya Fuji that reimagines the Japanese folklore belief that a woman’s hair is interconnected to one’s spirit, soul, and energy.

The exhibition is on view May 27 - July 2, 2022. Wear your artsy best and join us for an opening reception with the artist on Friday, May 27, 6-9PM. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 12-6PM or by appointment.

“I think in many cultures there are beliefs that hair has a spiritual significance, and it's the same in Japan. In the Shinto religion, the longer and healthier the hair is, the more spiritual. Oftentimes, the hair is considered a representation of that person, and when someone passes away at war for example, people used to cut a bit of their hair off and bring it back to the family.

On the other hand, in Feng Shui and in Japanese folklore, hair is where people store energy–be it positive or negative. Cutting your hair is considered a way to shed negative energy and bad luck so one should time their trims wisely. Hair also appears in many old ghost tales in Japan, where there's a vengeful woman's spirit haunting towns with her hair. In this series I wanted to explore the significance of hair in Japanese culture by painting a bunch of strong women with flowing hair, being playful and powerful.”–Maya Fuji

Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese girl crying and cutting her hair titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of 2 Japanese women  titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese female portrait titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of 2 Japanese ladies titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese woman hairdressing another Japanese woman titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese black female titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a long hair Japanese black female titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese girl sitting titled
Maya Fuji's figurative illustration of a Japanese female & butterflies titled

MAYA FUJI (b. Kanazawa, Japan, 1988) is a new contemporary artist based in San Francisco, CA. Her vibrant illustrative works are influenced by her cultural heritage as well as the local microcosms of the SF Bay Area. She is fascinated by themes of traditional Japanese mythology and folklore, and blends these with her own experiences of being issei (first generation) in the United States. A recurring theme in her work is the exploration of what creates our sense of identity, and how that can shift over ones life. Soft feminine figures float through her work, encompassing abstraction, texture, vulnerability, and mystique. She layers pops of color and shape to explore themes of passing time, and to contemplate hidden meanings in the lore of her ancestors. Each piece has a story to tell—historical legends, lessons and ghost stories of the floating world era, reimagined through the lens of the digital age.

Photograph of people going inside Voss Gallery in San Francisco during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people attending Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a smiling lady with a curly hair with artwork in the background during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of artist laughing and discussing with guests during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a lady with glasses and artist holding a bouquet of flowers during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people talking and looking at artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two people holding drinks during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two people talking in front of artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a man with long hair smiling with artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three women discussing during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of women viewing artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a woman taking pictures with her phone during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three woman laughing during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three woman laughing during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of gallery owner, Ashley L. Voss with artist and her artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of four people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of five people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of artist and three women during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two ladies during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of five men during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of artist talking to two men during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of gallery owner, Ashley L. Voss and a lady guest during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of artist with her artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a man's hand taking pictures with his phone during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women being photographed during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women smiling during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a woman smiling to a man during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two ladies doing peace sign and waving during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a man during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a lady holding her phone while doing peace sign during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two ladies with glasses beside an artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women smiling during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of gallery owner, Ashley L. Voss during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people discussing and viewing artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people in front of Voss Gallery in San Francisco during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a woman with blue and blond hair and a man smiling during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a couple during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women hugging during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a man and three women during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three women during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of two women during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of a couple during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three people during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of three people holding canned drinks during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people talking and viewing artwork during Maya Fuji's
Photograph of people viewing artwork during Maya Fuji's