“Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo” Introduction

Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo presents an in-depth look at the careers of three trailblazing American women of Japanese descent and asserts their rightful place in American art. On view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum from November 15, 2024, through August 17, 2025, this national touring exhibition traces their artistic development before, during, and after the mass incarceration and displacement of Japanese Americans during World War II. The exhibition offers a nuanced view of how these women continued to explore and experiment with new artistic expression throughout their lives.

In this video, Melissa Ho, curator of twentieth-century art at SAAM, discusses the lives and work the three artists and explores highlights from the exhibition.