KQED Art School is on a mission to find out how artists develop their signature style, and we’re asking some prolific Bay Area artists to tackle this compelling question in order to figure out how one goes about developing an artistic approach that is recognizable and unique. Chad Hasegawa paints portraits of bears and notable artists, and his style is influenced heavily by the Abstract Expressionist movement, and a thrifty approach to materials. He has created murals throughout San Francisco and shown his paintings and sculptures in galleries. His work balances between abstract and figurative art, with dense, wild brushstrokes that are often pieced together to create recognizable forms.
Hasegawa creates art in public spaces as a gift or protector for all those who pass by. His work is often inspired by people he knows or admires, and as he explains in the latest episode of Art School, resourcefulness and the challenge of working with affordable materials helps direct his art practice. Hasegawa will be an artist-in-residence at the de Young Museum in spring, 2016 and you can learn more about his work in the Art School video and at chadhasegawa.blogspot.com.
Additional footage from "Chad Hasegawa's Mother Market" by Glenn Cargain.