Sally Tagawa is an American pastel artist, designer, and art educator based in San Diego, California. She is known for her atmospheric landscape paintings, especially her work capturing the skies of Kauai, Hawaii. She is also recognized as the former wife of Japanese-American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.
Table of Contents
Sally Tagawa Wiki-Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name/Real Name | Sally Phillips Tagawa |
| Profession | Pastel Artist, Designer, Art Educator |
| Hometown | San Diego, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Relationship Status | Divorced (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, married 1984, divorced 2014) |
Physical Appearance
| Detail | Information |
| Height | Approx. 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Eye Color | Blue / Green |
| Hair Color | Brunette / Blonde |
Family
| Relation | Information |
| Father | Retired mathematics teacher |
| Ex-Husband | Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (m. 1984, div. 2014) — Japanese-American actor known for Mortal Kombat |
| Children | Calen Tagawa (son), Brynne Tagawa (daughter), Cana Tagawa (daughter) |
Education
| Institution | Qualification |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 3 years in the Art Department |
| Self-directed travel | Extensive study of light and landscape across the US and Europe (late 1970s) |
Sally Tagawa Early Life and Background
Sally Phillips was born and raised in San Diego, California. Growing up near the coast gave her an early love for light, color, and the natural landscape.
She studied art at UCLA for three years. After university, she traveled widely across the United States and Europe. During these travels, she studied how light and atmosphere change across different landscapes. This would shape her entire artistic career.
In 1978, she moved to Venice, California. At that time, Venice was a thriving hub for West Coast artists. She bought and renovated a commercial building on the main boulevard, turning it into her studio.
Family Background
Sally’s father was a retired mathematics teacher. Her mother took an early liking to Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa when Sally introduced him to the family in 1984.
Her father was initially unsure about Tagawa, who was then a street performer and martial arts instructor. But over time, he came to support the relationship after seeing Tagawa’s dedication to Sally and their children.
Sally and Cary married in 1984. They raised their three children — Calen, Brynne, and Cana — away from the Hollywood spotlight, settling in Kauai, Hawaii. The couple divorced amicably in 2014 after nearly 30 years together.
Education
Sally studied in the Art Department at UCLA. The program helped her build a strong foundation in both classical technique and visual theory.
After UCLA, she traveled through the US and Europe on her own. She used this time to study how light behaves in different places — a practice that directly influenced her signature style of painting skies and coastlines.
Professional Journey
Early Career in Venice
After moving to Venice in 1978, Sally began working as a professional artist. She painted in oils and also sculpted in bronze. She showed her work at the Robert Berman Gallery in Venice alongside other notable California artists.
She later moved into commercial design. She joined the design team at London Records, where she learned to create strong visual impact quickly. In the early 1980s, she co-founded her own design company called Market Street Design with partner Richard Kriegler. The company combined photography with fine art principles.
During this period, she also started using photography as a tool — not as an art form in itself, but as a way to capture light before it changed. She would later use these photos as references for her pastel paintings.
The Kauai Years
In 1993, Sally and her family moved to Kauai, Hawaii. This move changed her work completely.
The island’s clean air and brilliant colors pushed her toward a new subject — the sky. She set up a studio in Kilauea and spent her days painting clouds, sunrises, and sunsets.
Her first show on the island, hosted by the Kong Lung Company, sold out entirely. Her work attracted collectors including author Michael Crichton and actor Ben Stiller, both of whom bought multiple pieces.
She stayed in Kauai until 2006. This period is widely seen as the most important phase of her artistic life.
Return to San Diego
In 2006, Sally returned to San Diego. She joined the Art Institute of San Diego as an art teacher. She is known for her approachable teaching style and her focus on helping students develop their own personal artistic voice.
She also became a judge for the San Dieguito Art Guild’s monthly shows. Her current work focuses on the coastline of California — applying everything she learned about light and sky during her years in Hawaii.
Awards and Honours
| Recognition | Details |
| San Dieguito Art Guild Judge | Selected as monthly show judge (July 2015) |
| Art Institute of San Diego Faculty | Recognized as a technical expert in pastel art |
| Robert Berman Gallery, Venice | Early representation alongside leading California artists |
Online Presence
| Platform | Handle |
| Official Website | sallyphillipsart.com |
Some Lesser Known Facts
- She was the first person to encourage Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa to pursue acting professionally — before their marriage, he was a street performer and martial arts instructor.
- In 1984, she and Cary traveled to Colorado to participate in a Sundance ceremony, a Ute spiritual tradition. This experience was an important part of their early bond.
- She uses photography as a sketchbook, not as an art form. She photographs the sky quickly to capture changing light, then paints from those photos using pastels.
- Author Michael Crichton bought two of her original pastel paintings.
- Actor Ben Stiller bought three of her original works for his Kauai home.
- Her Gicleé prints are made on acid-free paper with inks rated for a 200-year color lifespan.
- She worked in the Venice art scene in the late 1970s alongside artists Peter Alexander and the Dill brothers.
- Her father was initially cautious about Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa when they first met, but later became a supporter of the marriage.
Sources
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/caryhiroyuki-tagawa-family-who-is-wife-sally-phillips-and-mortal-kombat-stars-children-101764900805648.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary-Hiroyuki_Tagawa
- https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-cary-hiroyuki-tagawa-and-wife-sally-arrive-at-the-news-photo/777764
- https://www.sallyphillipsart.com
