HoMA Shop launches limited-edition face masks designed by local print artists

The HoMA Shop is celebrating the work of five Hawai‘i-based print artists with the launch of a special series of face masks created especially for the museum. Artists Kris Goto, Lauren Okano, Lauren Roth, Lauren Trangmar, and Shar Tuiasoa (also known as Punky Aloha) generously shared their talent in support of HoMA—below is a look at each artist, and their individual mask designs.

Kris Goto

Kris Goto

Kris’s early fascination was with manga, especially the works of artists Hayao Miyazaki, Yuu Watase, Ai Yazawa and Osamu Tezuka.  She never doubted that she’d be a manga artist after she graduated high school. Born and raised in the countryside of Japan, Kris moved to Hong Kong at the age of nine.  he spent two years of high school in New Zealand, where she discovered worlds outside manga, becoming particularly inspired by the art of Maori tattoos and the imaginative and eerie works of Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman.  She moved to Hawaii in 2006, and caught her first wave in 2009. She remains a strong HoMA advocate, powerfully spreading her love and the positivity we all need.

Purchase Kris’s mask here, and see more at @kgotoart.

Lauren Okano

Lauren Okano

Lauren received her formal art training from The Cooper Union School of Art and Architecture in N.Y.C., where she immersed herself in a full spectrum of art including Painting, Printmaking and Western Calligraphy. She studied Japanese Calligraphy and Painting with a Master calligrapher and National Treasure in Japan, then as a Fulbright scholar, returned to Japan to refine her studies the art and cultural traditions of Japan. She is currently the art specialist at Hanahau’oli School, an instructor at the Honolulu Museum of Art, and teaches art during the summers at Punahou School.

“My paintings during Covid are about endurance. Like no matter what I go through in life, art endures and enables me to extract and express the beauty inside and outside of me. While forced to live within the daily numbing and stark new reality I can still push through and bring a glimpse of hope and color.”

Purchase Lauren’s mask here, and see more at @laurenokano.

Lauren Roth

Lauren Roth

Hawai‘i-based artist and designer Lauren Roth has been creating for as long as she can remember. Her artwork is a unique combination of watercolor, acrylic, ink, and paint markers. Dreamy colors and organic shapes layered on textured surfaces invite the viewer to explore her intricate interpretations of life, where one quickly discovers the labor of love Lauren puts into each piece she creates.

“I have taken this time at home to appreciate and dedicate to my art. The work that has come from it is unlike anything else I have ever created. I am very thankful to be able to share some of it with you. “

Purchase Lauren’s mask here, and see more at @laurenrothart.

Lauren Trangmar

Lauren Trangmar

Lauren is an artist, illustrator and graphic designer with roots in Hawaii and New Zealand. She currently lives and works on the island of Oahu. Lauren specializes in highly detailed illustrations that reference the conventions of historical, scientific illustration, often with a contemporary, whimsical twist. Themes that are explored in her most recent work include the relationship between storytelling, culture, myths and history, art and science and the study of natural history.

“The pandemic has really made me simplify my life down to the fundamental things that are important to me. Therefore, the main things I have been doing are making art (commercial, commissioned and personal projects), and enjoying the outdoors. As an avid ocean swimmer and hiker, I have always been interested in nature but I have been able to slow down and appreciate it even more over the last few months. This mask design is based on a selection of the (Hawaiian) native species that I have been marvelling at during my adventures.”

Purchase Lauren’s mask here, and see more at @laurentrangmar.

Punky Aloha

Shar Tuiasoa

Punky Aloha Studio is the multi-disciplinary design and illustration studio of artist Shar Tuisoa. Shar spent 6 years studying Fine Art and earning a certificate in Fine Art from her local community college before moving on to Laguna College of Art and Design where she earned her BFA in Illustration and Entertainent Design. Shar has experience working on commercial illustration for advertising and marketing, children’s illustrations, stationary and surface designs. Her primary aesthetics are bold, graphic, vibrant and young with mid-century modern influences.

Purchase Shar’s mask here, and see more @punkyaloha.

Click here to visit the HoMA Shop purchase page. The adjustable masks are available individually, as well as in a bundle of five, and come with two replaceable PM 2.5 filters.  All proceeds from HoMA Shop sales support the museum’s exhibitions and programming—a great way to stay protected while supporting the arts.

For more information, please contact Retail Manager Cori Mackie at (808) 532-8703, or cmackie@honolulumuseum.org.