In this Episode of Art is Awesome, Host Emily Wilson spends time with Hawaiian-born painter Chad Hasegawa .
Welcome to Art is Awesome, the show where we talk with an artist or art worker with a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area.
In this episode, Emily talks with San Francisco based artist Chad Hasegawa, known for his minimalist, bold abstract style. Chad grew up in Hawaii, moved to San Francisco inspired by the Mission School art movement, and studied advertising at the Academy of Art University before becoming a full-time painter. He discusses how artists like Franz Kline and Mark Rothko shaped his goal of creating work that stirs deep emotion without explanation, and how painting murals on the street — and the raw reactions from passersby — reinforced that vision. Chad is currently painting a mural on shipping containers at the entrance to the San Francisco Art Fair at Fort Mason (April 16–19) and will have a solo presentation at the Good Mother Gallery booth inside the fair.
About Artist Chad Hasegawa:
Chad Hasegawa is a San Francisco-based artist and a graduate of the San Francisco Academy of Art. Hasegawa's art is a quest for simplicity and emotional resonance. His approach, deeply rooted in minimalism, focuses on reducing complexity to reveal the essence of feeling and reason. Hasegawa believes in stripping away the unnecessary, leaving behind art that genuinely connects with the viewer through color and form. This process, a balance of adding and subtracting elements, aims to capture pure emotion rather than narrate stories. His work is a deep exploration into the intrinsic structures that shape our perceptions.
His work is not just an artistic expression; it is a blueprint for understanding and experiencing the world. Through the lens of minimalism, Hasegawa meticulously crafts each piece to serve as a map, guiding viewers through a landscape of feelings and ideas. The essence of his art lies in this careful balance of elements - each subtraction and addition serves a deliberate purpose, ensuring that every stroke, every color, and every form contributes to the overarching narrative of emotional truth. He strips away the extraneous, focusing on the elemental to evoke a raw, unfiltered emotional response. This purity of expression allows the viewer to connect deeply with the work, engaging not just with the art but with their own inner landscapes of emotion and thought. His work reshapes our understanding of art and its purpose, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in a complex world. By removing the superfluous, his work allows us to appreciate the fundamental aspects of life and art.
Hasegawa's work uniquely blends emotion and reasoning, ensuring each piece is both meaningful and emotive. When his work lacks feeling, he enriches it with emotion; when it lacks purpose, he refines it to its core. This balance is Hasegawa's signature, making his art a powerful statement in the ongoing evolution of minimal abstraction and its role in shaping our future.
For more from Chad, CLICK HERE.
Follow Chad on Instagram: @ChadHasegawa
For more about the San Francisco Art Fair at Fort Mason - CLICK HERE
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About Podcast Host Emily Wilson:
Emily a writer in San Francisco, with work in outlets including Hyperallergic, Artforum, 48 Hills, the Daily Beast, California Magazine, Latino USA, and Women’s Media Center. She often writes about the arts. For years, she taught adults getting their high school diplomas at City College of San Francisco.
Follow Emily on Instagram: @PureEWil
Follow Art Is Awesome on Instagram: @ArtIsAwesome_Podcast
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CREDITS:
Art Is Awesome is Hosted, Created & Executive Produced by Emily Wilson.
Theme Music "Loopster" Courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
The Podcast is Co-Produced, Developed & Edited by Charlene Goto of @GoToProductions.
For more info, visit Go-ToProductions.com