I'm in how stories and symbols transcend culture and time & how specifically chosen materials can connect those stories to place.
​USA b.1973
Lives and Works in both Los Angeles and Dubuque, IA
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E. E. Kono's practice explores History; both real and imagined. Kono’s upbringing was split between a diverse international community and middle America. This nurtured her life-long interest in how stories and symbols create meanings that are interwoven between cultures. Initially, this inspired a career in children’s literature, where she wrote and illustrated picture books. Now, her practice favors a slow, meditative process using materials and imagery selected for their layered significance.
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In 2022, Kono moved from Los Angeles to her hometown of Dubuque, IA, situated in the driftless area of the upper Mississippi River Valley. Her focus turned towards exploring the profound connection between people and place; particularly within the context of a nation shaped by immigration, on land whose native population was forcibly displaced, and within a dominant culture that has distanced itself from the natural world.
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A self-taught painter, Kono studied art history at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) and the University of Hull (Kingston Upon Hull, England). She has also studied traditional egg tempera techniques under the guidance of artist Koo Schadler. Kono’s work has been exhibited internationally and in notable venues, including La Luz de Jesus (Los Angeles, CA), Modern Eden (San Francisco, CA), Riverside Art Museum (Riverside, California), and Beinart Gallery, (Melbourne Australia). Her paintings have been seen in American Art Collector, Arts to Hearts Magazine, and Juxtapoz magazine. Additionally, she is an award-winning author and illustrator with over a dozen books published by major trade houses. Her book illustrations are in the collection of the Mazza Museum (Findley, OH)
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