About
Eiji Serita
Eiji Serita was born in Sapporo, Japan in 1934, the son of Hana and Makio Serita. He developed an interest in art as a high school student and knew he wanted to be an artist. When he was in his twenties, he traveled in the same art circles as Ayako Iwata, also a promising artist. They wed in 1960.
In 1966 they moved to New York City with their five year old daughter, Toko, where he realized his dream of painting in that city. They spent the next 31 years in Brooklyn, New York, where he had a successful career as an artist. After exhibiting and traveling back and forth between the United States and Japan for several years, Eiji and Ayako relocated to Japan permanently in 1997.
FORTRESS MANHATTAN
While still living in New York, Eiji devoted his time painting “Fortress Manhattan.” From his brownstone house in Brooklyn he observed, through his 4th floor studio window, One World Trade Center growing taller each day and later witnessed the completion of its twin tower. He dearly admired the spectacular view of the Twin Towers from the River Cafe near the Hudson River as well.
However, he believed that “good fortune” does not last forever. Later, based solely on his imagination, he depicted the fortress city falling to pieces, with buildings tilted by gusty winds and engulfed in flames. A year or two later, 9/11 hit New York he lost the flow of his creative expression.
In his closing years, he invested time in painting an arched gateway. In March 2016, he went through it and crossed over to the other side.
Ayako Serita
Ayako Serita was born in 1931 in Sapporo, Japan to Ayae and Ruokuuemon Iwata. She became involved in art as a high school student and started exhibiting by the age of 21. By the time she was 23 years old, she became a member of Hokkaido Bijitsu Kyokai no Ka-in. She met Eiji Serita and married him in 1960 when she was 29 years old. A year later, their daughter Toko was born.
In 1966, she left for New York City with Eiji and their daughter to forge a new life and new adventure with her family even though none of them spoke English or had any friends in the United States.
During her years in New York City, she raised her daughter, who went on to become a judge in New York City. Upon her return to Japan in 1997 with her husband Eiji, they built a beautiful studio for the two of them where could spend her time painting.
According to Ayako:
“Since I’ve always had a deep interest in education, I continued my academic studies in art. After returning to Japan, I focused on the theme “New York Expressions.” I took pleasure in drawing faces based on my memories of the many people who had crossed my path in New York City, a city of diversity.
Then I discovered my passion for cherry blossoms. I was mesmerized by the powerful energy of these spring flowers and produced large scale oil paintings (162 x 114 cm). It was truly a pleasure to translate inspiration and feeling into the visible form of works of art and present them at exhibitions in Tokyo and Sapporo.”