"My work usually begins with some type of material and the question – “I wonder what would happen if?” Usually, I have no idea what the final piece will look like.  As I begin to manipulate the material, an idea starts to take hold, and at some point, the work begins to take on a life of its own. As it grows, unexpected things happen; a connection breaks, or a mistake is made. This creates the opportunity for a new direction to emerge and allows me to create something original. My themes are almost always personal, such as loss, memory, or gratitude, and there is usually a meditative quality to them. I like to work with lightweight materials, such as paper, wire, and natural fibers, because these allow me to achieve volume without the weight. Wire is especially compelling to me. It is easily bent, but hard to break.  It can be easily manipulated into a shape, but it still maintains its integrity as a line. It can look fragile, but is strong."

- J. Nakagawa

Judy Nakagawa began studying sculpture at the Corcoran School of Art & Design in Washington, D.C. in 1998 and in 2002 was awarded the Berthold Schmutzhart Award for sculpture. In 2001 she had a solo show in the National Press Club Building in downtown Washington. In 2004 she moved to Vancouver and had solo shows at the Japanese Canadian National Museum in Burnaby, the Murakami Boatworks building in Richmond, B.C. and the Visual Space Gallery in Vancouver. Nakagawa has participated in numerous group shows and has created large commissioned works for two theatrical installations.