The steel works of New York-based artist Miya Ando reflect the artistry and meditative spiritual life in which she was raised. A descendant of Bizen sword makers, Miya was brought up in two worlds-- a Buddhist temple in Okayama, Japan among swordsmiths-turned priests and the coastal environment of Santa Cruz, California. Under Ando’s skillful hand, the dynamic properties of metal are manipulated to produce soft, ethereal works of art, facilitating self-reflection, thought, and serenity. Beautifully described by The New York Times, “Miya Ando’s refined, subtle works of rolled steel, made of she … (read more)

The steel works of New York-based artist Miya Ando reflect the artistry and meditative spiritual life in which she was raised. A descendant of Bizen sword makers, Miya was brought up in two worlds-- a Buddhist temple in Okayama, Japan among swordsmiths-turned priests and the coastal environment of Santa Cruz, California. Under Ando’s skillful hand, the dynamic properties of metal are manipulated to produce soft, ethereal works of art, facilitating self-reflection, thought, and serenity. Beautifully described by The New York Times, “Miya Ando’s refined, subtle works of rolled steel, made of sheets of burnished and chemically treated metal, are [...] a must-see for anyone interested in post-minimalist contemporary art.” Ultimately, Miya creates unique hues, subtle gradients, and tranquil abstractions on steel, which command attention through their visual and physical strength.

Miya Ando grauated with a Bachelors in Science from the University of California at Berkeley and continued her education in East Asian Studies at Yale University. In 1999, she apprenticed under Master Metal Smith, Hattori Studio (Okayama, Japan) and completed a residency at Northern California’s Public Art Academy in 2009. Her works have been exhibited extensively nationally and internationally, namely solo and group exhibitions in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Berlin and recently in a group show curated by Nat Trotman of the Guggenheim Museum. Miya has created several public commissions in New York, San Francisco, Berlin, and Los Angeles. Most recently, she has been commissioned to produce a commemorative sculpture in London from World Trade Center steel to mark the ten year anniversary of 9/11.

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