Aaron Piland and Ayumi Kajikawa Piland are the fantastical magical duo known as APAK. They are a childlike husband and wife collaborative art group who live among the fury conifer giants in a little cottage on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. They create artwork together as a way exploring the beauty, mystery, and magic of life as well as expressing their love for life and each other.
They are known in particular for creating rich and colorful gouache/acrylic paintings on wood featuring the utopian lives and adventures of curious little beings living in lush fantastic environments surrounded by friendly little animals, the landscapes are familiar yet surreal, hinting at a fantastic narrative while suggesting truths about the real world at the same time.
Individual Portfolios
Ayumi: http://apakstudio.com/ayumi/
Aaron: http://apakstudio.com/aaron/
Our Flickr photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apak/
Solo shows
“Worlds of Wonder” Giant Robot, New York, NY, May 2008
“Lost in Dream” Outre Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, March 2008
“Little Sanctuary” Giant Robot, San Francisco, CA, October 2007
“Happy Hermits” Super 7, San Francisco, CA, October 2006
“Hidden Places” Renowned Gallery, Portland, OR, July 2006
Group shows
2008
“Printed Matter show” Giant Robot, San Francisco, CA, February 2008
“Balls Out” Grass Hut, Portland, OR, March 2008
“Magic show” Pony Club, Portland, OR, April 2008
“PLUSHFORM” ROTOFUGI, Chicago, IL, June 2008
“Abracadabra” Anteism, Victoria, B.C. Canada, July 2008
“Roots to Fruits” Together Gallery, Portland, OR, August 2008
“Game Over” Giant Robot, San Francisco, CA, September 2008
“Spread the Lead” Gallery Hanahou, New York, NY, October 2008
“Hut on an Island” Grass Hut, Portland, OR, October 2008
“Technicomfort” Thanky Space, Richmond, VA, November 2008
2007
“Night Swim” group show at JUNC Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, February 2007
“The Wurstminster Dog show” Wurst Gallery, Portland, OR, February 2007
“Elevation” Limited Addiction, Denver, CO , February 2007
“Electric Garden” Compound Gallery, Portland, OR, June 2007
“Tree show 3″ Giant Robot, San Francisco, CA, July 2007
“Birdhouse show” GrassHut, Portland, OR, July 2007
“Summer Sanctuary” CWC Gallery Hanahou, New York, NY, July 2007
“Snack Isle” Giant Robot, New York, NY, September 2007
“Giant Robot Biennale: 50 Issues!” Japanese American Museum, Los Angeles,CA, November 2007
“Tiny Shop” Double Punch, San Francisco, CA, December 2007
“GrassHut All Stars” DVA gallery, Chicago, IL, December 2007
“Martin Ontiveros’ Ojo Rojo” GrassHut, Portland, OR, January 2007
2006
“Robot show” Compound Gallery, Portland, OR, January 2006
“We Heart Gocco” Wurst Gallery, Protland, OR, February 2006
“Ninjas are Sweet” MoshiMoshi, Portland, OR, February 2006
“Couple’s Only show” MoshiMoshi, Portland, OR, March 2006
“Business Minded” Renowned Gallery, Portland, OR, March 2006
“Mythstories” show at JUNC Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, March 2006
“Plush show” Madame Edgar, Montreal, Canada, March 2006
“Unkl SUG custom show” Compound Gallery, Portland, OR, July 2006
“Underwater show” Reading Frenzy, Portland, OR, July 2006
“Post Its show” Giant Robot 2, Los Angeles, CA, August, 2006
“Tokyo in PDX” Office, Portland, OR, August 2006
“Good Wood show” Renowned Gallery, Portland, OR, October 2006
“Alphabet show” Wurst Gallery, Portland, OR, December 2006
“Mike Burnet’s Neighborwood” Compound Gallery, Portland, OR, December 2006
“Paper Bag show” Madame Edgar, Montreal, Canada, December 2006
“Calendorks show” GrassHut, Portland, OR, December 2006 and 2007
“Annual Print Show” MoshiMoshi, Portland, OR, December 2006 and 2007
2005
“Brontsaurus” Compound Gallery, Portland OR, March 2005
“Vintage Vandals” Wurst Gallery, Portland, OR, July 2005
“Sharpie Show” Reading Frenzy, Portland, OR, July 2005
“Employee of the Month” Wurst Gallery, Portland, OR, November 2005
“In Plush We Trust” RotoFugi, Chicago, IL, November 2005
“Rainbow Connection” Moshi Moshi, Portland, OR, December 2005
“4 Square” Motel Gallery, Portland, OR, December 2005
Interviews
Grass Hut Interview 2008
“5 whats” interview 2008
Events
Zine Symposium, Portland, OR, August 2005 and 2006
Stomptown Comis Fest, Portland, OR, October 2005 and 2006
APE, San Francisco, CA, April 2006 and 2007
Custom Adicolor Demonstration, Adidas store, Portland, OR, March 2006
CraftyWonderland Christmas, Portland, OR, December 2007
Artist Residency
Islands Fold, Pender Island, B.C. Canada, July 2006
Press and Publications
Vinyl Will Kill
Pictoplasma
Pencil Fight
Portland Fun Book
Juxtapoze
High Fructose
XLR8R
