Lois Harada is an artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally from Salt Lake City, Lois settled in Providence after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking. She currently works at DWRI Letterpress, a commercial shop that specializes in hot metal typecasting and where she prints her own editions as well. In addition to printing, she serves on the board of the nationally recognized arts non-profit New Urban Arts which offers free, after school programs for high school age students.

Artist Statement

My work features the multiple or editioned prints and I often base work off historical references like government propaganda, posters or news clippings. Each print is meant to start a conversation and the graphic, sparse nature of the prints is a physical representation of that invitation. I utilize commercial printing techniques and production methods to create editions that are utilitarian and meant to be affordable or free.

Much of my work addresses my family’s history of incarceration as my paternal grandmother was interned during World War II in a camp at Poston, Arizona. This topic is timely as immigration detention centers operate on our borders and as incidents of anti-Asian racism have become more prevalent and public.