Kazumasa Oda will be exhibiting his captivating landscapes at Les Beaux-Arts Gallery from Sunday, May 27 through Friday, June 29.
Born in Shizuoka, Japan, Oda studied architectural/interior design at Parsons School of Design in New York and has worked in corporate and residential design for more than three decades. While traveling throughout Europe, he started sketching. This eventually developed into drawing pen and pencil architectural buildings. Oda began studying watercolor painting in 2000 at Silvermine School of Art and, more recently, the Rowayton Art Center. His work has been exhibited in Tokyo and in various local shows in Connecticut. He received numerous first prize awards in art shows.
About his art, Oda commented: “My art has taken a new direction since moving to Bridgeport. With my architectural background, I am naturally attracted to the old New England industrial factories, beautiful historical homes and other unique buildings. However, I have also developed an interest in local nature scenes that express the intimacy of quiet moments. I still work with watercolor, since for me it is a fluid medium and quickly evokes a spontaneous and natural mood. However, I subsequently became interested in oil painting and added this to my repertoire. As I began to work with oils, I found that the medium conveys a stronger intensity of color and by using palette knife instead of brushes, I can achieve a looser style, richness, and diversity.”
Les Beaux Arts Gallery at Round Hill Community Church is open Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; closed Saturday and Monday, May 28. For more information, visit roundhillcommunitychurch.org or call 203-869-1091.
