Living nearly his entire life in Maui, 32-year-old artist Edwin Ushiro always dreamed of life beyond the island. There was more than just the sleepy, laidback life he only knew, so Ushiro left tropical paradise for the city in California. Now Ushiro, who has worked on several Hollywood film and television projects as a storyboard artist, is making his mark as a mixed media artist, evoking images of home, his childhood and Hawaiian folklore.

Ushiro’s latest exhibition, “Softly Encompassing the Womb,” is a lyrical ode to his childhood in Hawaii—inspired by Hawaiian mythology and ghost stories set in a manga-animated world. Opened September 12 at the LeBasse Projects in Culver City, California the exhibition runs until October 12.

“The pieces depict a moment in time when you find the core within yourself, the essence of what you are and then finally the purpose of your destiny,” says Ushiro.

Ushiro always knew his destiny would involve art in some way, even as a kid when his grandmother would send him anime from Japan.

“Those anime series always excited me more than the Marvel comics I saw in the stores,” says Ushiro. “My favorite series was called Macross. There was a character called Max Sterling who controlled this robot in such a fluid and elegant manner. That was really cool.”

 Ushiro attended the Art Center College of Design and graduated with a BFA in Illustration with honors. A film career in Hollywood beckoned where Ushiro worked as an art director, visual effects consultant, storyboard artist and concept designer on projects such as CSI Miami, Battlestar Galactica: Caprica and Angel.

While it’s not a full-time job yet, Ushiro has been creating a buzz with his mark with his gallery work. Having shown his work in galleries and exhibits around the world, Ushiro is adding Germany and New York to his repertoire of art showings. Ushiro is also creating a piece for the Giant Robot Biennale at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

But it’s not just the vibrant, dreamy imagery of young children and beautiful, ethereal women that draws viewers to Ushiro’s work. His collections, using a mixture of graphite, ink, watercolor, acrylic, markers, t-shirt transfers and vinyl, often focus on the darker side of Hawaiian folklore, the tales that kept many young Hawaiian children awake at night.

His piece, “Gradiently Everything would Sparkle from the Sea to the Stars,” is inspired by the legend of “Ka Huakai O Ka Po,” or the “Marchers of the Night.” The scene depicts the moment between nightfall and before dawn when the ancient gods, chiefs and their soldiers rise from the dead for their daily march. According to myth, if you look directly at the spirits, the night marchers will take you with them into the afterlife.

It’s his fascination with both the real and fantasy world that fuels Ushiro’s artistry.

“To me, mythology and folklore inspire real life events,” says Ushiro. “They offer a world of endless possibilities. The inspiration never runs dry.”

Catch Edwin Ushiro’s exhibition, “Softly Encompassing the Womb,” at the LeBasse Projects, 6023 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA. The exhibition runs until October 10.

Visit lebasseprojects.com for more information.