We were lucky to catch up with Junko Suzuki recently and have shared our conversation below.

Junko, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

It’s difficult to determine which piece holds the most meaning. My artwork, mostly acrylic paintings, is inspired by my dreams. Whenever I have a vivid and significant dream, I write it down. If something in the dream is visually striking or evokes powerful emotions, I create sketches to capture those elements. Over time, I combine these sketches into a larger, cohesive art piece, infusing it with my personal artistic expression.

Dreams are incredibly inspiring and feel like the most creative and liberating space I can experience or explore. While there can be nightmares, dreams remain free from limitations, confinements, social pressures, or any form of judgment. The brain works on its own, processing and healing in ways that feel almost magical. Creativity knows no bounds in the realm of dreams, and I feel truly blessed when I wake up and can vividly remember them.

I’m often asked what the images in my paintings mean—why a floating severed hand, why chopped feet in every piece, why such grotesque imagery? My usual answer is, “I don’t know.” While I might have a vague sense of what these dreams represent, they’re not always clear enough to fully understand. Some symbols seem obvious, reflecting what I was going through at the time of the dream. Others might stem from feelings I’ve been avoiding or struggles I haven’t yet processed. And sometimes, it’s simply my brain working through things while I sleep.

There was one question I truly enjoyed answering—a young girl at an event asked me, “Why pink circles?” Many of my paintings feature large, vibrant pink circles, and for once, I had a clear answer. Painting pink circles brings me a sense of happiness and peace, which is why I end up incorporating so many of them into my work. She seemed genuinely fascinated by this, and we had a wonderful conversation about it. Moments like that remind me how much I cherish the creative process—it means so much to me.

Junko, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a full-time graphic designer by day and dedicate my free time to working on my personal art. I moved to the United States at the age of 19 to attend college, which was 32 years ago. My journey began at Yakima Valley Community College in Washington, and I later transferred to Western Washington University in Bellingham, where I studied art and art history. After completing my studies, I decided to make the U.S. my home.

After college, I had dreams of working for a museum, but that path didn’t pan out. Instead, I decided to give graphic design a try, even though the thought of sitting in front of a computer all day didn’t appeal to me at first. Surprisingly, I discovered that I enjoy design work! I’ve now been a graphic designer for over 26 years, honing my creativity in the world of commercial business art, and I truly love what I do.

At the same time, I’m passionate about my personal art and am learning to balance both pursuits. I feel fortunate that I don’t have to rely on my art for income, which gives me the freedom to create without worrying about marketability. My work is often considered grotesque by others, but I embrace that and refuse to tone it down for any reason.
My favorite artists span various disciplines, including painters, filmmakers, and musicians. Among them are Chagall, Dali, Frida Kahlo, Egon Schiele, Yayoi Kusama, Alejandro Jodorowsky, H.R. Giger, Miles Davis, and many others. I’m always thrilled when people recognize their influence in my art—it feels like a shared connection. I’m deeply drawn to surrealism, which naturally emerges when I use dreams as inspiration for my work. From there, my ideas evolve and expand, making the creative process both organic and incredibly fun.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal in art is to embrace pure, uncompromised self-expression while continually pushing creative boundaries. Though it’s a deeply vulnerable process, I find immense joy in it. This journey requires a great deal of unlearning—letting go of societal norms, fear of judgment, self-consciousness, and anything that breeds doubt or holds me back from being truly authentic. By doing so, I can bring to life the visions I see in my dreams with honesty and freedom.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I feel deeply happy and at peace when I can fully immerse myself in my art. In those moments, nothing else seems to matter; I am completely absorbed in the joy of creating and working on my paintings. There’s a profound satisfaction in expressing myself artistically, free from self-consciousness. I feel the most serene when applying varnish to my finished work, as if sealing in not just the painting but also the sense of tranquility it brings me.

When I share my art with others, I feel an additional sense of fulfillment when they connect with and empathize with my work. If people don’t know the source of my inspiration, some might assume I’m simply creating psychedelic art. I’ve had people describe my work as “trippy” and leave it at that. And that’s okay—they’re still enjoying my art.

Most of the time, people ask me questions and share how my art makes them feel. Some express empathy toward my work, and that always moves me deeply. I truly enjoy hearing how others connect with my art. I’ve even been told that certain elements in my paintings resemble something they’ve seen in their own dreams during similar experiences. Knowing my art resonates with others in such a personal way makes sharing it even more special.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.junkosuzuki.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junkosuzukiart/