Betty Ayako Mochizuki (born October 31, 1929) is a Canadian painter and printmaker. Mochizuki's works consist of predominantly watercolour paintings, oil paintings, and prints. Mochizuki was born in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

. Mochizuki studied at the

Ontario College of Art Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities within do ...

in Toronto, where she graduated in 1954, specializing in landscapes and still-life painting. Mochizuki was a member of the

Canadian Society of Graphic Art The Canadian Society of Graphic Art (CSGA), originally called the Graphic Arts Club, was a non-profit organization of Canadian graphic artists. It was founded in 1904, and formally chartered in 1933. At one time it was one of the larger organizatio ...

until it disbanded. Betty Mochizuki and is an active member of the

Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (in French: La Société Canadienne de Peintres en Aquarelle), founded in 1925 is considered to be Canada's official national watercolour Society. Since the 1980s the Society has enjoyed Vice-regal ...

after being elected in 1960, and was also elected as a member of the

Ontario Society of Artists The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) was founded in 1872. It is Canada's oldest continuously operating professional art society. When it was founded at the home of John Arthur Fraser, seven artists were present. Besides Fraser himself, Marmaduke M ...

in 1976. Mochizuki held several exhibitions with the Picture Loan Society and was a heavily involved member before its closing in 1968.

Education

Betty Ayako Mochizuki studied at the

Ontario College of Art and Design Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities within do ...

in Toronto. Mochizuki graduated in 1954, specializing in landscapes and still-life paintings. Throughout her life, she studied under Canadian Artists

Jock Macdonald James Williamson Galloway Macdonald (31 May 1897 – 3 December 1960), commonly known in his professional life as Jock Macdonald, was a member of Painters Eleven (Painters 11, or P11), whose goal was to promote abstract art in Canada. Macdo ...

and Jack Nichols.

Artwork and mentions

Betty Mochizuki is noted for her lively and impressionistic landscape designs, as well as her paintings of flowers and graphic-styled still life works. Mochizuki's work touches on her family's Japanese heritage, and the integration of multiple cultural backgrounds into one's own identity When questioned about her works' stylistically eastern influences, she replied that "it just comes out that way." Mochizuki's unnamed pen and ink drawing, which depicts several whales playing within an amulet, is featured in the poetry anthology book ''Whale Sound''. The work reflects Mochizuki's printmaking skill, illustrating her understanding of defined and steady line-work. Mochizuki's oil painting ''Scented Memory'' is currently displayed in the

Art Gallery of Ontario The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; french: Musée des beaux-arts de l'Ontario) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The museum is located in the Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, on Dundas Street West between McCaul and Beve ...

, which was donated as a gift from Douglas M. Duncan's personal collection after his passing. In the book by

Joan Murray Joan Murray (born August 6, 1945) is an American poet, writer, playwright and editor. She is best known for her narrative poems, particularly her book-length novel-in-verse, ''Queen of the Mist''; her collection ''Looking for the Parade'' which ...

, ''Confessions of a Curator'', a painting by Mochizuki is mentioned, though the title is not stated. The work is recalled as a favourite of the MP's receptionist, who refused to let it be taken back after the Art Gallery of Ontario had lent it. A short biography on Mochizuki is published in the fourth volume of ''A Dictionary of Canadian Artists''.

Exhibitions and reception

Mochizuki held several solo exhibitions with the Picture Loan Society in 1955, 1958, 1960, and 1976. Mochizuki featured her Oil Painting Cycle in the

Canadian Group of Painters The Canadian Group of Painters (CGP) was a collective of 28 painters from across Canada who came together as a group in 1933. Formation The Canadian Group of Painters succeeded the disbanded Group of Seven, whose paintings of the Canadian wilde ...

Exhibition in 1962 and 1963, which showcased her ability to depict abstract content among her collection of landscapes, and indicates a great range of versatility. Mochizuki's work was frequently featured in exhibitions held by the

. Mochizuki held several solo shows, one of which was composed solely of her oil paintings, and another that showcased her works in watercolour. In 1976, Mochizuki held another solo show of her paintings and drawings at the Sisler Gallery in Toronto. Mochizuki's watercolours displayed at her solo ''Watercolour Exhibition'' in 1960 were noted for their technical excellence, though she was criticized for deriving much inspiration from the works of others. Despite criticism, she was considered an artist to watch, and Colin Sabiston stated that he believed she would rank well in later years. Another critic noted Mochizuki's work as being graceful, yet vivacious, with her landscape and flower paintings being stated as having charm and delicacy. Two of Mochizuki's landscape paintings featured in the ''Jack Sullivan Sculpture Exhibit'' in 1965 were "especially worth mentioning" and were considered a notable attraction amongst the other works. In 1962, Mochizuki was awarded the C.W. Jeffery's Award for Outstanding Graphic Art for her work Most of Mochizuki's work is kept in private collections, however several of her pieces are currently displayed at

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

, Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery, Sarnia,

Museum London Museum London is an art and history museum located in London, Ontario, Canada. It is located near the forks of the Thames River. It started its operations in 1940 with London Public Library and amalgamated with London Regional Art Gallery and Lon ...

, and the

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mochizuki, Betty 20th-century Canadian painters Canadian women painters Canadian printmakers Canadian people of Japanese descent 1929 births Living people OCAD University alumni Artists from Vancouver 20th-century Canadian women artists