Experience a range of nature-inspired artwork as diverse as the ecology of the Pacific Northwest itself!

Primarily used for elaborate patterns on kimono and yukata, katazome is a method of using exquisitely cut paper stencils and resist paste to dye fabrics. Today, katazome-created designs can be stand-alone art pieces, or are often found on noren curtains, futon covers, and furoshiki gift wraps.  

Local Oregon artist, Karen Illman Miller, has practiced katazome for the past 30 years, infusing her designs with inspiration from the natural world and drawing from her background as a marine biologist. The Calvin and Mayho Tanabe Gallery will host Miller’s extraordinary art, which fuses traditional Japanese dyeing with our local landscape. The hallway located just outside of the Yanai Family Classroom will feature a selection of antique katazome stencils collected by Miller throughout her artistic career.  

From March 29th through June 5th, the Tanabe Gallery will feature katazome artwork featuring flora and fauna of the Oregon landscape, including many plants found within Portland Japanese Garden itself. Starting June 7th, the second half of the exhibition will explore the rich tapestry of ocean life.

Read Karen Illman Miller’s artist bio and artist statement on the Artist Talk Event Page.

Portland Japanese Garden would like to thank The Miller Foundation for their support of arts and culture programming