Pictures of Belonging

I stopped by the Smithsonian Museum of American Art to spend time going through a new exhibit: Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo (November 15, 2024 – August 17, 2025). Their beautiful work reflected the turmoil of Executive Order 9066 that dislocated and interned anyone of Japanese descent during World War II, their journeys away from home, and their artistic successes.  

I was particularly drawn to Hisako Hibi. As I entered each new space, I gravitated to her artwork without even knowing who drew what when I entered the room. While imprisoned for three years at Topaz, she produced over 100 drawings of her observations, but I saw bright hope in her later works. Incredible resiliency and talent. 

Photo Album: Pictures of Belonging