Desert Rinpa by Mitsumasa Overstreet is an ode to the desert southwest and the cultural influence of his Japanese ancestry. Founded in Kyoto in the 17th century, the Rinpa school produced defining Japanese landscapes of the era. Overstreet incorporates traditional Rinpa processes into his work and includes local flora of the Chihuahuan Desert in a hybrid installation of cross-cultural connection, ancestry, and lived experience.

Mitsumasa Overstreet is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD annually supports local artists, area non-profit arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories, designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.

Desert Rinpa is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.

Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.