Mayumi Oda

Japanese American artist Mayumi Oda (b. Tokyo, 1941) is renowned for her striking depictions of women, which she affectionately calls “goddesses.” In this selection of prints, male deities such as Daikoku and Ebisu appear in female form, reimagined as goddesses.

Elsewhere, Sarasvati (Benzaiten in Japanese), the only female member of the Seven Lucky Gods, takes center stage; the six male deities surrounding her have been replaced with a load of fresh vegetables.

“I changed the gender of many male deities because all you see is male — you never see a female — so I thought: why not have a female goddess instead,” explains Oda. “I was inspired by all goddesses from many civilizations, not just Buddhist or Japanese.”

Oda’s work “not only expresses a positive vision of feminism but also reveals a journey of self-discovery,” says Associate Curator of Japanese Art Yuki Morishima.