One of the country's most renowned Asian American artists, Teraoka adapts art forms of East and West to comment on contemporary issues. His work ranges from bemused to biting as it deals with wide-ranging themes, including cultural conflict, environmental pollution, sexuality, and AIDS. His inspirations include ancient Japanese traditions, especially the art of woodblock prints know as ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world); American Pop art; and, more recently, medieval Renaissance motifs.