Award-winning Japanese American artist Nick Lee’s “Eternal Flames” exhibition — at the Massillon Museum through Aug. 30 — features vibrant paintings of Japanese Americans he met during the 2024 winter Kakehashi Project, a cultural exchange program for Japanese Americans in Japan. Lee uses his art to better represent his community, as well as explore his heritage. “My artistic practice was deeply energized by my time in Japan,” Lee explains. “Through the Kakehashi Project, I formed a new community of Japanese Americans who inspired this series of paintings.” “Eternal Flames” displays eight large-scale pieces — including “Zach and Sachiko Off the Coast of Okinawa.” It depicts Lee’s friend, Zach, during their time on the island, where they stayed with a host family. “My intention is to accurately depict who these individuals are, in hopes their images could last forever,” Lee says.
121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, 330-833-4061, massillonmuseum.org
Nick Lee
Nick Lee
