Toshiko Kitano Groner

“When beauty touches my heart, through my eyes, ears, thoughts or moments of experience, I am propelled from within to find expression for this beauty.  I work in oil, pastel and watercolor to express the essence.  With pastel, I feel that I can create the soft, poetic and narrative images.   I like the freedom of quick expression and touch of colors of watercolor.    I am thrilled by the rich tones of oil painting and I want to express in bold strokes.  I enjoy the creative process in which the most inner becomes the most outer. “

Toshiko Kitano Groner is a fine artist who lives and works in New York City.  She was born and grew up in Japan.  From early childhood, she loved drawing, painting and singing.  She instantly fell in love with New York City when she came from Japan. 

Her first career was in music, as a singer and songwriter.   Toshiko performed her songs at various clubs in New York City.   Three of her song were performed by a local opera company at Carnegie Hall.   Toshiko has written and composed music and is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).

After years of involvement with music and life experience, Toshiko once again renewed her interest in visual arts.   She loves traveling and painting landscapes in the places she visits, such as France, Italy and Japan.    Upon returning to art, she began to exhibit her oils, pastels and watercolors at various galleries in New York City and other locations.   In 2011, she had a solo exhibition at the Onishi Gallery in Chelsea, New York City.

Toshiko has been a member of RIVAA (Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association) since 2001 and exhibiting her works at the RIVAA and Octagon Galleries on Roosevelt Island each year.  Her works have been privately collected in New York, New Jersey, California and other locations.   Toshiko currently continues her studies at the Art Students League of New York.