Many of Iwami Reika’s works deal with themes of wood and water, and her mature style is characterized by a monochromatic palette with gold-leaf accents and the use of embossing and blocks made of found driftwood. Iwami was born in Tokyo and studied kokeshi doll carving before turning to printmaking in the 1950s. She was inspired by the prints of Onchi Kōshirō and studied with Sekinō Jun’ichiro and Shinagawa Takumi. Iwami cofounded the women’s printmaking group, the Joryū Hanga Kyōkai (Women’s Print Association, 1956–65), to create professional opportunities for women artists in a male-dominated field. She was also an active participant in the College Women’s Association of Japan’s annual print exhibition.
