Now on view at SVMA: The mesmerizing work of Hiroko Fukumoto in the exhibition Book Becoming Art 「芸術になった本」from January 18 ~ April 27, 2025 at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. From Kyoto, Hiroko Fukumoto is a visionary book artist who incorporatesmushrooms into her three-dimensional artwork and installations.

Our residency program “Book Becoming Mushroom” with Hiroko Fukumoto at Amu Arts offers workshops creating her live mushroom books at the Pixar Animation Studio at the Sonoma Community Center.

Here are some photos from presentation and hands-on creation by Hiroko Fukumoto at the Pixar University! We inoculated Blue Oyster Mushrooms and Italian Oyster Mushrooms on January 22 in 2025 and over the next 5 weeks, we’re watching as these books come alive! 

At the Sonoma Community Center, please join us for a unique and interactive community event celebrating creativity, nature, and the wonders of fungi!

A large Mushroom Book is displayed in the Sonoma Community Center foyer, where it will be nurtured daily with misting, and you’ll be able to watch as the mushrooms begin to sprout, evolve, and mature over time. Thank you Jill, Sean and MC for taking care of the books every day and creating the live camera!

You’re invited to visit the Sonoma community Center on March 2 from 2 ~ 4 PM for a celebration of the fully-grown book—an exploration of how her art continues to evolve. Please sign up here for this special celebration before Hiroko returns Japan!