Meet June Sekiguchi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful June Sekiguchi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with June below.

June, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My current exhibition at ArtX Contemporary in Seattle, The Geometry of Resilience, emerges from a concept that has been evolving for some time. In the wake of the global pandemic and amid ongoing political crises, we find ourselves more vulnerable than ever. How do we navigate the precarious conditions imposed by our government? These challenges ignited a deep urge to explore resilience through my work.

I often rely on metaphor to articulate complex ideas. During two artist residencies—Willapa Bay AiR and Vashon Artist Residency, both situated on the water—I found unexpected inspiration in the natural world. Tidepools, sessile creatures, and marine micro-organisms became potent symbols. Their quiet persistence and adaptability resonated deeply, eventually anchoring my exploration of resilience in this body of work.

While my work explores the theme of resilience, the very act of creating it is a practice in resilience itself—driven by a persistent commitment to doing what is right, both in life and in art. Complacency has played a role in bringing us to this current political moment, and now is the time for all of us to act in service of the greater good.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m deeply involved in the arts and culture community, actively building partnerships with organizations and individuals to amplify our collective voices. I serve on the board of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, which represents 47 countries across Washington State, with a particular focus on Tacoma and Pierce County. I’m also a founding member of the Parallax Arts Collective, dedicated to providing opportunities and resources for AANHPI artists. In addition, I’m a member of the Northwest Designer Craft-Artists (NWDC), where I support efforts to grow membership and promote greater inclusion of underrepresented groups. Together, these three organizations are collaborating to cross-pollinate ideas and strengthen our shared impact in the communities we serve.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

There are distinct differences between my art practice and my service to the arts. In my personal art practice, the focus is on developing technical skills and exploring conceptual narratives. Professionalism and the ability to respond to opportunities with readiness have also played a key role in advancing my career. I’ve built a strong foundation through volunteer service—curating exhibitions, serving on boards, and participating on juries—all of which have provided valuable learning experiences and opened doors to more significant service roles and paid positions. If you’re lacking experience in a particular area, volunteering is a powerful way to learn, grow, and gain meaningful exposure.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I’ve always leaned into my strengths because they reflect what’s authentic to me—I can pursue what feels true without relying on others to validate my path. However, when working in group settings, collaboration is essential. It takes a village: others step up with their own strengths and skill sets to help achieve shared goals. Trying to do everything alone leads to burnout; effective teamwork allows everyone to thrive.

I’ve had the experience of founding several arts organizations. In one of the earliest groups, while many people were involved, I was primarily responsible for curating and launching pop-up exhibitions. These one-night events often ended with me tearing everything down alone at the end of the evening. After many such instances, feelings of resentment began to build, ultimately leading to burnout. The saying “many hands make light work” rings especially true in my experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.junesekiguchi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/june_sekiguchi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/june.sekiguchi

Image Credits

Richard Reynolds