Misato Sano’s Charming Wooden Dogs Are Carved With Personality

Misato Sano’s studio is replete with piles of wooden offcuts, heavy lumber, woodworking equipment, and flowing natural light. The Miyagi-based artist has been sculpting charismatic dogs for several years, steadily adding more distinct characters to her growing pack.

Self-portraiture remains a consistent theme within Sano’s practice. Each dog evokes a different emotion mirroring the artist’s personality, ranging from shy and skittish to excited and silly. “Visualizing my inner self through expressions and gestures full of charm and humor has also become an opportunity to deepen my self-love,” she shares.

a wood-carved sculpture of a dog by Misato Sano — “I Got a Good Idea!” (2025)

Sano’s distinctive woodcarving techniques are exemplary of the artist’s signature style. Dimpled surfaces, for instance, evoke different types of dog coats and allow for color variance to come through upon the finishing application of oil paint. Working with camphor wood, the sculptural exaggeration of physical features such as limbs, bulbous tufts of fur, and even nails add to the body of work’s playful appeal.

These rhythmic textures and amusing design choices have also lent themselves to explorations of embroidery and illustration. Meditative stitches and repetitive, gridded ink drawings are a continuation of the artist’s dialogue with herself.

Sano is gearing up for an exciting year. Later this month, her work will be on view in a duo exhibition at the Kan Hai Art Museum in Taiwan. In August, the artist’s work is traveling to the states for Nucleus Portland’s 10th anniversary show, before a third exhibition at Igoone Arai in her native Miyagi, Japan. Keep up with the artist’s tail-wagging adventures by following her on Instagram.

a pink wood-carved sculpture of a dog by Misato Sano — “Raspberry” (2025)

a wood-carved dog sculpture by Misato Sano stands on the ground. more wood-carved dogs stand on pedestals behind it — “I’ve Got a Feeling” (2024)

detail of a wood-carved sculpture of a dog with bamboo growing out of its head by Misato Sano — “Bamboo Shoot Crazy” (2025)

face details of a wood-carved dog sculpture dog by Misato Sano — “Let’s go, BOSCH!” (2025)

a wood-carved pekingese sculpture by Misato Sano — “Rice Cake Pekingese” (2025)

face details of a wood-carved pug sculpture by Misato Sano — “Wrinkly Pug” (2025)

a wood-carved yorkie sculpture by Misato Sano — “Captain Yorkie” (2025)

a grid-like drawing of 24 pug faces by Misato Sano, each depicting a different emotion — From the artist’s “Drawing Series” (2025)

“The Forgetful Whippet” (2025)

an embroidery by Misato Sano depicting a dog combing its hair, wearing colorful bows. the piece sits inside an embroidery hoop — “Wear a Ribbon and Look Fashionable” (2024)

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