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CORVALLIS, Ore. - "Contemporary Japanese Prints," an exhibit exploring the Japanese aesthetic, will be on display Nov. 9 through Dec. 1 in the Fairbanks Gallery at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

A reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, with a gallery talk by OSU art professor Yuji Hiratsuka at 5 p.m.

"Contemporary Japanese Prints" explores the distinctive and influential Japanese aesthetic. A driving force behind this aesthetic is Japan's appreciation of technical skill and craftsmanship. From fashion to fine art, the physical artifacts of Japanese culture reflect this dedication to creating precious and precise art and design, exhibit organizers say.

This dedication is well-suited to printmaking, a medium where the tools, workshop, esoteric details and variety of techniques make it an art form which is process-driven. The work in this exhibition embodies both superb technical ability and the alluring Japanese aesthetic.

The artists represented in the exhibit are from all stages in their careers. Yukio Fukazawa is a 91-year-old graphic master, while Fumiko Suzuki is a 27-year-old recent graduate of art school. She is producing hand-drawn stone lithographs; her images are that of her contemporary female artists in Tokyo portrayed in intimate self-reflection.

Keisuke Yamamoto, Tomuyuki Sakuta, Sohee Kim, Azumi Takeda and Ryohei Tanaka are among the other artists featured in the exhibit.

This exhibit was curated by Miranda K. Metcalf, director of contemporary works of paper at Davidson Galleries in Seattle. Metcalf traveled to Tokyo in September 2014 to research and prepare the exhibition.

The Fairbanks Gallery, 220 S.W. 26th St., Corvallis, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibit is free and open to the public.