Michelle Kumata is a 3.5 generation Japanese American artist and local Seattleite living on Duwamish land, with a BFA in Illustration from The School of Visual Arts in New York, NY. She worked as a graphic artist at The Seattle Times for over a decade. She also served as Exhibit Director at Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience for 12 years, helping communities bring their stories to life through compelling exhibitions. In 2018, she left The Wing to explore her own voice and stories through art. Michelle is influenced by heritage, identity, and legacy. She is currently exploring the Japanese diaspora (Nikkei) in the U.S. and Brazil through oral histories and visual storytelling. Michelle’s work has been shown at the Center on Contemporary Art, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bonfire Gallery, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Seattle Japanese Garden and The Society of Illustrators Museum, New York, NY. Her work is in the collections of the City of Seattle, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Meta Open Arts, and the Library of Congress.