untitled (“Gionbō” persimmons and vegetables), Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani

The Japanese term ita-e (板絵), meaning “painting on wood,” refers to works executed directly on wooden panels rather than on silk or paper. Traditionally used for Buddhist icons and small devotional objects, ita-e exploit the natural grain of the wood as part of the composition. Mirikitani reimagined this practice through his use of salvaged plywood as both support and symbol. Working in colored pencil and pen, he sometimes added collage elements, such as photographs, to create richly layered scenes. By transforming discarded plywood into a surface for art, Mirikitani extended the ita-e tradition into a contemporary act of improvisation and expressive vitality.