Ken Nishi was born in Salinas, CA on June 7, 1916 of Japanese parents. Nishi studied at Salinas Junior College (1934-36) and Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (1937-41). In 1939 he assisted Millard Sheets in his 20'x25' mural for Treasure Island.
During World War Two he served in the Army in the Special Services while based in Missouri. After discharge from the Army, he was active in Chicago before moving to Rockland County, NY where he was art director of the Rockland Center for the Arts. Nishi died in Nova Scotia on December 9, 2001.
Exhibited: Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939; Stanford University, 1940; Springfield Museum, 1943; St Louis Museum, 1943, 1944.