Mike Diaz Morimoto (b. 1991, San Jose, California) is an aspiring curator. He recently received a bachelor’s degree in art history from San Jose State University as a first-generation college student. Diaz Morimoto was born and spent his early years in the South Side of San Jose. He experienced city life until the age of 11 when his family relocated to the central valley of California, which was a big shift in his life in both environment and mentality. He learned a strong work ethic in the rural central valley but also was troubled by the slow and often stagnant life many people lived in the valley. Not wanting to get caught up in this, Diaz Morimoto decided to attend Modesto Junior College (MJC) for Marine Biology. After discovering art history at MJC and having not seen much art in the central valley, his world changed, and he began to pursue Art History. After becoming more involved in the MJC student ran gallery, Diaz Morimoto became interested in curation and the process of creating art. When it came time to transfer to a University, Diaz Morimoto decided to return to his home town of San Jose, California.
Diaz Morimoto’s involvement of studio art was triggered by his curiosity and personal need to understand the processes her read about in his Art History text books. He feels that no art historian could truly understand or explain a process or a medium unless they have some type of firsthand experience with it. His curiosities have brought him to step into the studio and learn the processes of printmaking (linocut, woodblock and etching), jewelry and small metal work, figure modeling (as both artist and model) and painting (oil and watercolor). His inspirations in his work are heavily influenced by his Mexican and Japanese heritage, sports competition, the ocean and marine wildlife and of course his family and the lives they live.
At San Jose State University Diaz Morimoto is heavily involved in working with the international student community as a member of the International Student and Scholar Services student assistant team. There he helps international students adjust to life in the United States as well as helps with certain processes and paperwork. He is also a student athlete, representing SJSU in the sport of Lacrosse. He is both a starting defender on the team as well as serving as the teams Treasurer. It is Diaz Morimoto’s hope to one day combine his interest in cultural diversity, love of sport and art to one day bring sports to the galleries and widen the art audience in the United States. His art has been featured in smaller gallery shows at MJC and SJSU, but Into the Depths will be the first time any of his work will be displayed in a museum show. He is honored to be in the show. Into the Depths runs from May 4th 2019 till May 11th 2019 at the Monterey Museum of Art – La Mirada.