CICA Vancouver announces a major collaboration with the Deer Lake Artist in Residence Program, welcoming internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Ayako Rokkaku to Metro Vancouver in spring 2026. The project includes a residency in Burnaby followed by a solo exhibition at CICA Vancouver, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to international artistic exchange. Rokkaku will host a public Open Studio on March 18, 2026, offering insight into her creative process. Her solo exhibition, Trails of Life in the Air, will run from April 10 to June 13, 2026, with an Opening Reception and Live Painting event on April 9.
Born in 1982 in Chiba, Japan, Rokkaku is known for her performative painting technique, using her hands to apply acrylic directly onto canvas. Her work merges abstraction and figuration, drawing from kawaii culture and abstract expressionism to create dynamic, imaginative compositions.
Developed during her time in Metro Vancouver, the new body of work explores themes of movement, atmosphere, and transformation. Inspired by the local environment and cultural context, the exhibition presents vibrant, evolving forms that reflect Rokkaku’s ongoing investigation into color, gesture, and living systems.
This collaboration highlights CICA Vancouver’s role in connecting global contemporary artists with local audiences through residencies, exhibitions, and public programming.
