Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nanae Itoi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nanae , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my very first art exhibition—it marked the beginning of my journey as a digital artist.

At the time, I had just graduated with a degree in Computer Science and Emerging Media. Most of my classmates were applying for software engineering or corporate jobs, and I felt pressure to do the same. Even though I dreamed of becoming a digital artist, I kept telling myself I needed to improve my coding skills first, then maybe I’d be ready.

But everything shifted after a conversation with a gallery owner in Bushwick. She said, “If you want to be a digital artist, why not just start? You can always work a corporate job on the side.” That moment was a wake-up call—literally. I remember the night I felt like I woke up, and it felt like the fog in my head had finally cleared. From that point on, I started taking real steps to make the exhibition happen.

The show turned out to be a success, and it led to other incredible opportunities. I’m deeply grateful to the gallery owner and everyone who supported me. That exhibition was more than just a project—it was a turning point that gave me the confidence to pursue the path I truly wanted.

Nanae , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Nanae Itoi, a Japanese creative technologist / digital artist based in New York City. My work blends traditional techniques—like washi paper collage and sumi-e ink painting—with digital technologies such as projection mapping, AR, and motion capture. I create immersive, interactive experiences that invite audiences to play, reflect, and feel.
I have always liked to create something since I was a child, and I was drawn to technology after moving to NYC. I found inspiration in how code, sensors, and visuals could bring new life to handmade work, making paintings respond or invisible ideas take shape.
My practice includes interactive installations, AR-enhanced artworks, motion-based visuals, and experimental sound pieces. I focus on presence, memory, and transformation—how small moments or gestures can create deep emotional impact. What sets my work apart is the way I use tech not for spectacle, but for intimacy. I often incorporate motion, sound, and touch, allowing audiences to become part of the art itself.
I’m proud of bridging traditional Japanese aesthetics with emerging media to spark dialogue around identity, society, and emotion. My mission is to make interactive art more accessible and personal, especially for younger, tech-curious audiences.
Whether in a gallery, a live performance, or a workshop, my goal is to spark wonder and create space for people to feel seen and connected.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

As someone on a creative path, I often feel that non-creatives may find it hard to understand the challenge of continuing to move forward even when there’s no clear sense of the final outcome. In many other fields, goals and correct answers are clearly defined. But in the world of art and expression, the final form or value of what you’re making often remains unclear for much of the process.
There’s a powerful, almost indescribable force that drives me—the urge to express something, the desire to share it with others. But explaining that feeling logically is often difficult. It’s not about following a formula; it’s about following an instinct.
I create by constantly experimenting and failing, guided only by the sense that I’m getting closer to “something.” That process is full of uncertainty and doubt, but I believe that’s where the core of creativity lives. It’s less about the result and more about the questions that guide me: “Why am I making this?” and “Who do I want to share it with?”
That’s why I believe it’s important to value the process itself, not just the final product. If more people could appreciate the unseen path that leads to a finished piece, I think creativity would feel much more relatable.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to create art spaces that are not just seen, but felt. I want to offer experiences where people can step into the work, interact with it, and reflect on themselves through it. Especially in the wake of the pandemic—and in an era where digital “connection” has become both ever-present and emotionally ambiguous—I believe there’s a deeper need for art that engages the senses and body, and truly moves the heart.

I’m particularly passionate about combining new technologies like AR, motion capture, and projection mapping with traditional Japanese aesthetics to create poetic, emotionally resonant, and interactive works.

I hope to make digital art more personal, more approachable, and more accessible to a wide range of people. My aim is to reach those who may not be familiar with art or technology, including diverse generations, through open, inclusive forms of expression.

Whether it’s through a live performance, an installation, or a single moving image, if my work can spark curiosity, evoke memory, and create meaningful connections between people, then I feel it has done its job.

At the heart of my creative practice is a desire to build bridges between analog and digital, East and West, and between personal emotion and collective experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nanaeitoi5.wixsite.com/portfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanae_itoi/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanae-itoi-279548164/?trk=li_LOL_DA_global_careers_jobsgtm_otwGeneral_res_Sep2023_dav5
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nanae5582

Image Credits

Ava wang