Kai is a 23-year-old emerging artist from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up in one of the most prominent art cities in the United States, he has been immersed in the world of art from a young age. Surrounded by a family of visual artists, he has been heavily influenced by his father, Joel Nakamura.
His creative visions are drawn from a diverse range of influences, stemming from his Japanese heritage, the wonders of nature, music, and the tumultuous world we live in. When visiting family in California as a kid, rather than doing typical “vacation” activities, his family would spend their time at art museums, opening his eyes to various mediums early on. He spent numerous hours every summer at the Japanese-American National Museum, where the rich cultural exhibits and stories of resilience continually inspired him to look deeper into the history and heritage of his community. His grandfather who is also an artist, Yoshio Nakamura, spent time in Japanese internment camps in the 1940s, was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Unit during World War II, and is a profound source of inspiration, propelling Kai to further explore and incorporate these multifaceted influences into his artistic expression.
In 2021, Kai faced a pivotal turning point in his life when he had open-heart surgery. During that time his world was the darkest it had been, but he found a deeper connection with art, as it provided some much needed color to his world. His passion for art was further cemented in the summer of 2022 when he had a business internship in Philadelphia. A few weeks into the internship, he realized it wasn’t the path he wanted to follow. After work hours, he would spend the rest of the day painting, resulting in around 30 artworks over the course of that summer. Since then, he has created over 200 pieces of art, which shows his commitment and dedication to his craft. Kai graduated from The University of New Mexico in May 2023 with a major in Marketing and Sales, but his passion for art continues to blossom.
One of his notable commissions includes crafting custom-painted shoes for four international runners on the track and field team at the University of New Mexico who had qualified for Nationals. Infusing elements of their respective countries' flags and the school's mascot into the shoes, he personalized each pair to fit the individual athlete.
Following the success of his work for the UNM track and field team, he was commissioned by New Mexico United, a professional soccer team in Albuquerque. For this project, he created an exclusive pair of custom shoes for a significant local event, "Meow Wolf Night." The shoes were featured on the team's Instagram page for a giveaway and were awarded to a commenter during the game halftime, making the shoes an important focal point of the night.
In August 2023, Kai was a part of his first art show at Pop Gallery in Santa Fe, titled “Dual Existence.” The artwork in the show was inspired by the opposing forces, and the various elements of the world. Later that year, in November, he designed custom painted pants for the band "Laswezo.” This led to further commissions from other musicians for customized pants. In the future, Kai would love to continue making more wearable art for other artists.
Kai intends to advance his artistic career, striving to enhance his skills and delve deeper into his craft. His goal is to further explore and advance his skills in different art mediums, mythology, and his talent for infusing compelling narratives and information into his artwork.