Yookan Westfied was born in Nanao-City, Japan and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. She earned a BFA from Kanazawa Art University and an MFA from Musashino Art University in Tokyo. She recently completed at the New York Studio School of Drowing, Painting and Sculpture.Westfield received the Dokuritsu Prize in Dokurisu Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Japan in 1997 and 1998. She has been an elected member artist of the Dokuritsu Art Association since 1999.

She has participated in the Dokuritsu Exhibition as an elected member and juror yearly since 2000. Recently she became a member artist of New York Artists Equity Association, Inc. She has held six solo shows at the Ginza Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo since 1984. Westfield has exhibited at venues including: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Saitama Modern Art Museum and others in Japan. In New York, she is a featured member artist of the Prince Street Gallery. She has participated in the gallery's group shows since 2006 and has her solo show held for November 2007. Her work has been reproduced and reviewed in the New York Seikatsu, Gallery Studio, NY and Hokkoku Times Newspaper, Bijyutunomado or Gekkanbijyutu(Japanese Art Magazine). Her work is represented in the government collection of Nanao-City, Japan.

EDUCATION

2004-2007
New York Studio School, Cerrtificate Program, studied with Graham Nickson

1978-1980
MFA Musashino Art University, Tokyo

1974-1978
BFA Kanazawa Art University, Japan

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2008
Solo Show, at the Gallery West in the Suffolk County Community College's Grant Campus in Brentwood was curated by Michaelann Tostanoski, on Mar.13 through Apr.18, 2008

2007
"Power of the Chaos and Cosmos", at the Prince Street Gallery, Nov.27 through Dec.29, 2007.

2004
"GREAT GIFT" exhibited 78 paintings, at the Community Center of Nanao-City, led by Mayor, Cureted by Director of Cultural Department Office in Nanao-City, Japan

2003
"GREAT FACE" Hasegawa Gallery,Tokyo

1995
"Sky of White Cat:Shiro", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1992
"Interior with a White Cat:Shiro", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1988
"Self-Portrait", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1986
"Interior with a mirror", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1985
"Interior witha mirror", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1984
"Interior with a mirror", Ginza-Surugadai Gallery, Tokyo

1983
"Landscape of Noto", Ginza-Taisei Gallery, Tokyo

1982
"Landscape of Noto", Ginza-Fuso Gallery, Tokyo

1982
"View of My Town", The Improve-environment Center Of Nanao-City, Japan

PRIZES and AWARDS

1998
The Dokuritsu Prize, Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metoropolitan Museum of Art

1997
The Dokuritsu Prize, Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metoropolitan Museum of Art

1996
The Mr. Kojima Award, Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metoropolitan Museum of Art

1995
The Rookie Award, Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metoropolitan Museum of Art

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

1981-2008
Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo MetoropolitanMuseum of Art(until 2006) and New National Museum,Tokyo(from 2007), Oct.16-31 and other major cities, Japan(Lead by Dokuritsu Art Association, established in 1930)

1999-2006
Saisyo Exhibition, Saitama Modern Art Museum, Japan, "Hybrid Painting" by Fifty Artists in Saitama-Prefecture, Japan(The 1stExhibition led by Mr. Kojinn Tanaka; died in 2003, Director of the Saitama Modern Art Museum until 2nd Exhibition, curate by Mr. Makoto Nakamura)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2009
ART81 January Show, ART81 Gallery, Brooklyn Dayker Heights New York.

2008
"Hungry for art", Fairway Gallery, Brooklyn Red Hook, curated by AK Corbin, Jun.6-12

2008
Park Slope Open Studio Tour, Brooklyn New York on May17 and 18 and Madarts Gallery May15.

2007
"Narrative", Brooklyn Red Hook Pier, Sep.29-Oct.26

2007
Thinking Big, Gallery Artists Group Show, Prince Street Gallery, NY, Jul.10-28

2007
Graduation Show, New York Studio School, Jun.6-13

2007
"Works on Paper", Prince Street Gallery, NY, May22- Jun.16

2007
Park Slope Open Studio Tour, Sacchi Art Studio, NY, May19,20 and Madarts Gallery May17

2007
Connections-Pier Art Show, Brooklyn Red Hook Pier, May12-Jun.17

2006
Four Prospects show, Prince Street Gallery, Ny, May23-Jun.17

2006
Two Artists show, New York Studio School Gallery, NY Jan.13-18

2005
The Artist's Voice, Cork Gallery, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincolon Center Plaza, NY, Sep.23-Oct.3

1997
Two Artists Show, Subaru Gallery, Japan

COMMISIONS

2001
Published; Review in the Dokuritsu Chronicle, the 69th Dokuritsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metoropolitan Museum of Art

2006-Present
Published; New York Art Scene, monthly two pieces on www.odekake.us/ website, Jun.

RECOGNITIONS

2004
Letter of Thanks from Nanao-City, Japan, Aug.1

1999
Recommended, Elected Menbership as lifetime Juror, Dokuritsu Art Association, Japan

BIBLOGRAPHY

Published

*Miura Ryouichi, review and reproduction, “Brooklyn Bridge with Pears”, ART81 January 2009 Show”, New York Seikatsu, Jan.19, 2009

*Miura, Ryouichi, "Yookan Westfiel's Solo Show at the Prince Street Gallery", New York Seikatsu, Dec.1, 2007.

*Takayama, Jun, review and reproduction, Bijyutsunomado, December 2006

*Miura, Ryouichi, "Letter of Thanks from Mr. Hideki Matsui", New York Seikatsu, Jun.24, 2006

*Sugiyama, Keiichiro, "Matsui's Face is a good subject for my painting", Hokkoku Times Newspaper Jun6, 2006

*Miura, Rouichi, "Sympathy for Mr. Matsui", New York Seikatsu, May 27, 2006

*Miura, Ryouichi, "Yookan Nishida & Jenny Cookie Two Artists Show", New york Seikatsu, Jan.1, 2006

*Oki, Tetsuya, "Yokan Nishida and Jenny Cookie Two Artists Show", New York Japion, Dec.26, 2005

*Miura, Ryouichi, "Exhibition of the Artists in New York", New york Seikatsu, Sep.24, 2005

*Oki, Tetsuya, "Exhibition of the Artists in New York", New York Japion, Dec.26, 2005

*"Exhibition of the Artists in New York", Daily Sun, Sep.30, 2005

*Good reputation of the Portrait of Mr. Matsui", newspaper, Aug.27, 2005

*Weller, Chris, review, Gallery Studio, February/March, 2005

*Taplinger Maurice, review, Gallery Studio, April/May, 2005

*"A portrait of Matsui became permanent exhibition", Hokkoku Times newspaper, Aug.5, 2004

*Nishida's Exhibition was opened", Hokkoku Times newspaper, May 24, 2004

*Nishida desired to hold her paintings in her hometown", Hokkoku Times newspaper, Apr.8, 2004

*"Mr. Matsu on canvas in the Nanao-City", Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, May 22, 2004

*A face of Mr. Matsui on a large canvas", Sankei Sports newspaper, Jul.21, 2003

*"Great face from New York", Hokkoku Times newspaper, Jun .28, 2003

*Michigami, Toshinori, "a painting of the GREAT FACE gave me the power", Hokkoku Times newspaper, May18,2003

*Michigami, Toshinori, "stronghold at the New York", Hokkoku Times newspaper, May6, 2003

*Ichi, Kenji, review, Bijyutsunomado, December 2000

*Ichi, Kenji, review, Bijyutsunomado, December, 1999

*Ichii, Kenji, review, Bijyutsunomado, December, 1998

*"Highlight og Main Prize in 1998", information and reproduction, Gekkann Bijyutsu, Jan. 1999

BROADCAST

*Reproduction in the special program of Van Gough Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, CBC TV Broadcasting, November 2005

*Information and reproduction, Hokkoku Broadcasting TV, 2004

*Information and reproduction, TV Japan, 2004

*Information and reproduction, Fuji TV Kanazawa Broadcast, 2004

*Interview about a portrait painting of Mr. Matsui, FM Tokyo, 2003

*Takahashi, Muneyuki, Interview, reproduction and information, Live and Satelite Broadcastind from Brooklyn, NTV All Japan Broadcasting, Jun.17, 2003

*Information and reproduction, Saitama TV Broadcasting, 2002

*Information and reproduction, Saitama TV Broadcasting, 2001

*Information and reproduction, Sky Perfect TV, 2000

*Reproduction, Saitama TV Broadcasting, 1999

COLLECTIONS

Publick Collections: Nanao-City, Ishikawa-Prfecture, Japan

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Juror, Dokuritsu Exhibition, Japan, 2000, 2001 and 2005

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member artist, Prince Street Gallery, NY

Member artist, New York Artists Equity Association, Inc.

Member artist, Dokuritsu Art Association, Japan

Member artist, Japan Artists Association Inc. in Japan