Pictures of Belonging is an unprecedented examination of these three trailblazing figures.  By tracing their artistic development before, during, and after the mass incarceration and displacement of Japanese Americans during World War II, the exhibition offers a nuanced view of how these women continued to explore and experiment with new artistic expression throughout their lives. Created during tumultuous decades in modern U.S. history, their paintings, along with their stories of resilience, remind us of art’s power in the face of adversity and challenge.

The exhibition includes works by Hisako Hibi and Miné Okubo recently acquired for SAAM’s collection, part of a multi-year initiative to expand and enrich the representation of Asian American experiences, perspectives, and artistic accomplishment in public displays and new scholarship.