​Reina Kashima is a Japanese American Artist, newly based out of Atlanta, GA. Chicago born, she moved to Morehead City, NC in grade school.  At 19, she enlisted into the U.S. Coast Guard in 2003. Her military career took her around the world throughout her career and  with retirement on the horizon, she thought hard about her passions, values, and the future. Art came to mind as she picked up the paint brush for the first time since high school (2000/2021). In July of 2023, she retired as an Operations Specialist Senior Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Coast Guard and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for outstanding meritorious achievement and 20 years of honorable service.

 

Today, Reina Kashima is a fulltime visual artist and upcycle designer. Her work is heavily inspired by HIP HOP music and culture. Her recent high contrast monochrome painting style is heavily inspired by Tommy's House in the film Belly (1998/Crime/Thriller) and the Monochrome photography series Soul (1997/Paris) shot by photographer Thierry Le Goues. 

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