About Kanani

My name is Kanani Miyamoto (she, her). I was born and raised on the island of O`ahu, I am an individual of mixed heritage and identify most with my Hawaiian and Japanese roots. I currently live and work in Portland, Oregon.

As an artist, many of my ideas and themes include, ending the romanticized myths of Pacific Island people. I’m focused on ending exotic fantasies built on capitalism and settler colonialism that has damaged the islands and her people. Also important to my work is sharing and celebrating my unique mixed background in our contemporary art world in hopes to represent my community and the beauty of intersectional identities. In my work, many visual elements are pulled from my Buddhist beliefs and Hawaiian heritage. I combine the many philosophies that have formed my identity and the identity of many people from the Hawaiian islands. I want people to ask more questions look deeper and harder at visual art. I want diverse traditional cultural practices embedded into academia. I want my community represented equally and fairly in the fine art canon.

I am a practicing artist and curator. Currently, I serve as the Arts Coordinator at p:ear. Previously, I taught as an adjunct instructor at Pacific University, Portland Community College, and Pacific Northwest College of Art. Additionally, I collaborate with the Right Brain Initiative and Young Audiences, where I work as a teaching artist for K-12 students. Beyond teaching, I'm engaged in organizing and taking part in various community arts initiatives and events.