Anisa Asakawa, BFA in Studio Art ’09

What was your “aha" moment during your time at WashU?
As a young art student, at first, I tried to fit in and look like everyone else around me. I had quite a transformation. I went from making artwork that was dark and depressing (hello emo-art-school-wannabe!) to making artwork that was truly who I am: whimsical, colorful, and joyful. This comprehensive pivot was evident in the inspiration, subject matter, materials, viewer interaction, and physical manifestation. I matured from approaching the classroom as a high school student looking to do “what the teacher wants” to growing into someone who realized and valued her own artistic voice despite not seeing any other students create in such a way. While this felt terrifying at first, trusting in my own creative vision and ability to birth it into being was my “aha” moment. I made the deliberate choice to be the artist who pushed the envelope, not the artist who played it safe. At the core of this transformation are the skills I gained at WashU that have continued to serve me today: a hard work ethic, strong technical skills, and a grounded art history perspective. I always look back on that time fondly and am inspired today by the bravery I summoned to step into the studio and create what my soul most longed to see. To this day, I aim to do that young version of Anisa justice by continuing to be brave when I create.

What skills did you get from a creative education that have helped you in your career?
I learned so much during my time at WashU and will be forever grateful for the education I received in the BFA program. Not only did I learn incredible technical artistic skills, but I also built a foundation rooted in art history and art theory which continues to serve me today. By visualizing myself as one of many voices in the historical timeline of artists, I enjoy having “discussions” with my art heroes while I’m in the studio asking creative questions. Most importantly, my creative education gave me the skill to zoom out and evaluate what is and what could be. This skill can be applied to anything in life: personal, professional, and as a community member of the world.

Honing creative critical thinking in higher education surrounded by professional artists and thought leaders feels like a gift I didn’t know I needed. It’s something that everyone in today’s world would benefit from as we navigate lighting fast changes in technology, culture, and politics. During my time at WashU, I remember hearing that “artists will save the world” because they are the ones who will be able to imagine and create a better future for us all.

What did you do after graduation, and how did you get where you are now?   After graduation in 2009, I worked a variety of creative jobs to pay the bills. I am truly a “hands-on” fine artist and thrive when I get to work in that way. I was first hired as a display coordinator for Anthropologie where I created large-scale installations and quirky artistic details for their stores. Then I worked as a cake decorator for Whole Foods Market, where I made whimsical cupcakes and cakes, until I settled as one of their graphic artists making chalkboard drawings, signage, and store displays. While working these day jobs over the years, I was always creating in my own studio as a screen printer and fiber artist doing lots of different projects.

In 2016, I decided to venture out on my own as an independent artist and found a sustainable path in painting and selling landscapes to collectors around the country. This online painting business has provided me incredible flexibility while I’ve raised two kids with my husband who has a demanding job as an emergency physician (also a WashU alum!). Working from a home studio allows me to physically and metaphorically open and close the door to my creative deep dives providing me with much-needed artist/mother balance.