Kazuaki Uehara was born on the Ishigaki Island of Okinawa, Japan, and moved to Tokyo as a young child. He immigrated to the United States after finishing high school, finding his first employment in the USA at a Japanese restaurant. After 20 years in the restaurant industry, Kazu pivoted to his career as an artist, initially starting with portrait sketches of Disneyland visitors and gradually transitioning into oil, pastel, and charcoal work.

Kazu believes that the pursuit of truth is a fundamental purpose in life, and this philosophy is expressed in his painting, especially in how he seeks to truthfully represent his portrait subjects.

Kazu is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the San Diego Portrait Society and has been the recipient of many awards for his artwork.