Risa Iwasaki Culbertson is a multi-disciplinary artist in San Francisco, CA with a focus in fiber arts, illustrating, and storytelling. Biracial and born in Japan, she creates art to bridge the gap between her two worlds. Inspired by the healing and connective power of humor and play, she creates her wacky, whimsical, and colorful work to process deep emotions in grief and joy, while creating places of belonging and finding ways to stay connected to those we love.

Molly Meng talks to Risa about creating for the experience instead of the object, drilling down big feelings to the essence of their meaning, and and how the work you make often doesn’t make sense when you’re going through grief.

Takeaways

1. Our job as artists is to be the steward to the stories and lessons that have been passed down.
2. Artists are a great bridge for bringing people together.
3. What have you done lately that has scared the shit out of you?
4. You have to get extremely comfortable saying no.
5. Make eye contact with all humans at every opportunity.

Links

Risa Iwasaki Culbertson

Risa Iwasaki Culbertson on Instagram

Risa Iwasaki Culbertson on Tiktok