Ottawa has long been home to artists who find beauty in unexpected places, and Judy Nakagawa is one of the city's most compelling examples. The local sculptor builds intricate, one-of-a-kind pieces from materials most of us would toss in the recycling bin — old fabrics, wire, found objects, and other repurposed odds and ends that she coaxes into something entirely new.
Art Built From Life
For Nakagawa, the choice of materials isn't incidental. Each scrap of fabric or twist of wire carries its own history, and that history becomes part of the work itself. Rather than starting from a blank canvas or a fresh block of stone, she begins with objects that have already lived — and uses them to tell her own life story.
It's an approach that makes her sculptures feel intimate in a way that polished, commercially produced art often doesn't. There's texture here, both literally and emotionally. Viewers often find themselves leaning in, trying to identify a familiar material or trace the logic of how one piece connects to the next.
A New Show at City Hall Art Gallery
Nakagawa's latest body of work is now on display at Ottawa's City Hall Art Gallery, a space that has become an important venue for local artists looking to share their work with a broad community audience. The gallery, located inside Ottawa City Hall on Laurier Avenue, is free and open to the public — making it one of the most accessible art spaces in the city.
The show gives Ottawa residents a rare chance to see the full arc of Nakagawa's creative process, from concept through finished piece. CBC Ottawa's Sandra Abma recently sat down with the artist to talk about her work and what drives her to keep building, stitching, and reimagining.
Why Repurposed Art Matters
There's something especially resonant about art made from what's been discarded or overlooked. In a city like Ottawa — where debates about sustainability, community identity, and what we choose to preserve are always humming in the background — Nakagawa's practice feels timely.
Repurposed art also has a democratizing quality. The materials aren't rare or expensive. They're the kind of things you might find in your own closet or garage. That accessibility sends a quiet message: that creativity doesn't require a trip to an art supply store, and that the stories worth telling are already all around us.
Go See It
If you're looking for something a little different to do in Ottawa this week, a visit to the City Hall Art Gallery is well worth your time. The show is free, the space is welcoming, and Nakagawa's work is the kind that tends to stay with you after you've left.
Ottawa City Hall is located at 110 Laurier Avenue West. Gallery hours vary, so check the City of Ottawa website before heading over.
Source: CBC Ottawa / Sandra Abma