Hiroko Shimizu
Calligrapher, Teacher, Lettercutter
Shimizu lives in Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan, where she runs Studio Letter Arts (SLA). She is a full member of Letter Exchange, and a deputy executive director of NPO Japan Letter Arts Forum (J-LAF).She writes, draws, teaches, and carves letters and is active nationally and internationally.
https://letterexchange.org/members/portfolios/hiroko-shimizu
2024
Elected to become a full member of the Letter Exchange.
Workshop ”Savoring Three-Dimensional Letters” hosted by De Wereld van PIXel, in Basel, Belgium.
Workshop ”Savoring Three-Dimensional Letters” at a week-long summer internship, hosted by Scriptores, in Turnhout, Belgium
Workshop “Roman Capitals with a Flat Brush ” at SLA
Workshop “Refining Your Sense of Writing” as a part of the sponsorship program of Doosung Paper in Seoul, South Korea
2023
Self-organized workshop ”Savoring Three-Dimensional Letters” in Kobe
Interview article in Alphabet, the journal of the Friends of Calligraphy, Vol.49, No.1.
Workshop “Roman Capitals with a Flat Brush” at SLA.
Lobby exhibition at Ashiya City Library
From the Book of Tea 1
You shall know why you believe
Quotation from Epictetus
2022
Webinar “Looking Back My Solo Exhibition in Bruges” hosted by J-LAF
2021
Article about solo exhibition in Bruges, in Letter Arts Review (Sea Hill Press) vol. 35, No. 3
Interview article “A Conversation with Hiroko Shimizu” on the website of Write on the Edge
https://www.writeontheedge.org/news/conversation-hiroko-shimizu/
Interview article in the journal of the Scriptores.
Solo exhibition at Manna Art Center in Bruges, Belgium.
Selected for Letter Arts ReviewAnnual Vol. 35 No.1. When I Let Go of What I am
2020
Self-organized workshop “Flat Brush – Call and Response” in Kobe
Article about the studio and work in the Studio Issue of Letter Arts Review Vol. 34 No. 3.
2019
Workshop “Refining Your Sense of Writing” in Kobe.
Workshop “Drawing Letters” hosted by J-LAF in Tokyo, Kobe, and Fukuoka
Workshop “Refining Your Sense of Writing” co-hosted by Minako Sando, Miwako Kawaminami, and Izumi Shiratani, in Tokyo.
Lobby exhibition in Ashiya City Library
Direct your eye right inward
This world is
Thought is the sculptor
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol.34 No.1.
Direct your eye right inward
2018
An article “A Pure White Monument Erected on a Seto Inland Sea Island” was published on the J-LAF website.
>> J-LAF website*
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Workshop “Drawing Letters” hosted by J-LAF in Tokyo, Kobe, and Fukuoka
2017
– Present Assistant of Emi Gordon’s lettercutting workshop, hosted by J-LAF.
Wrote a chapter on Drawing Letters in the Revised and enlarged edition of Calligraphy Book written and compiled by Minako Sando, published by Seibundo-Shinko Sha.
Two-person Exhibition with Yukie Fujiwara, titled “nr.”, in Gallery Paw in Ashiya. Exhibition of stone works.
2016
Lobby exhibition in Ashiya City Library
Imaginative Children
Quotation from Gauguin
Intuition
Tao Te Ching Chapter 41
2015
Group show “Akari” (light) exhibition hosted by Gallery Kit House
Exhibited a stone work
Group exhibition of lettercutting works “Letters and Shadow”, hosted by J-LAF and held in Tokyo and Osaka.
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol.30 No.1.
Circles
Veritas (stone version)
If the path be beautiful (stone version)
2014
Two-person Exhibition with Kyoko Matsunaga, titled “ENGRAVED”, at Gallery Paw in Ashiya. Exhibited stone works.
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol.29 No.1.
If the path be beautiful(calligraphic version)
Quotation from Paul Klee
2013
Group show hosted by Kobe Calligraphy Forum in Kobe.
An article “Quest for Fun Experiments” appeared in EDGE Vol.19 Issue 1, the journal of the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society.
Wall Writing Project at Nanikatsu, a printing company
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol. 28 No.2.
Contemplation
Action Conquers Fear
Wall Writing Project (at Nanikatsu)
2012
Group exhibition “Typologic 2012”, participated as an invited artist with Minako Sando, in Takeo Mihoncho Honten
Two-person Exhibition with Minako Sando, titled “Inter-Action”, at Azabujuban Gallery in Tokyo and at Gallery Kitanozaka in Kobe. Directed the collaborative work and the live writing.
Lobby exhibition at Ashiya City Library
Silence
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol. 27 No.2.
Intuition
Quotation from Gauguin
Tao Te Ching Chapter 41
2011
Assisted in the publication of “Calligraphy Book” by Minako Sando, published by Seibundo-Shinko Sha
Group exhibition, participated as an invited artist, at Daimarufujii Central Gallery in Sapporo
Workshop “Refining Your Sense of Writing” hosted by Calligraphy Network, in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka
Workshop “Lettering and Spacing” hosted by Calligraphy Network, in Tokyo and Osaka
Workshop “Flat Brush Free Writing” hosted by Calligraphy Network, in Tokyo and Nagoya
Group exhibition “International Calligraphy and Letter Arts Exhibition” participated as an invited artist, In Dublin, Ireland
Group exhibition hosted by Kobe Calligraphy Forum in Kobe.
Privately-organized workshop “Refining Your Sense of Writing”, in Kitakyushu
2010
Workshops “Lettering and Spacing” and “Flat Brush Free Writing” at SLA
Selected for Letter Arts Review Annual Vol.25 No.2.
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Foundation