MASUMI

@masumi_calligraphy

MASUMI

Japanese calligrapher / performing artist

Masumi was born on July 30, 1997, in Okinawa, where she grew up surrounded by nature. From an early age, she loved creating, using scrap materials to make toys and objects. At eight, she began practicing Japanese calligraphy, training under a master until she was eighteen. The quiet space filled with the scent of sumi ink became special to her, and she eagerly anticipated her weekly lessons.

However, as her skills grew, she felt constrained by the rigid traditions of Japanese calligraphy and eventually stepped away from it.

In 2023, studying in New York became a turning point. When a New Yorker asked, “What can you do?”, she reflected on her identity and began sharing her unique style of calligraphy. That May, she held her first exhibition at OneWall Art, hosted by Café Usagi. She then expanded her artistic reach, collaborating on performances that fused calligraphy with modern dance and music. In July, she participated in the Japanese Crafts and Arts in N.Y. 2024 exhibition at the Tenri Cultural Institute, followed by a live performance with a ukulele musician and collaborative works with a ceramic artist. In January 2025, she will co-host an exhibition with artist Sakai.

Inspired by New York’s open approach to art, Masumi found motivation in the city’s direct and expressive engagement with creativity. “If they like it, they like it. If it’s good, it’s good.”

In April 2025, Masumi will hold her first solo exhibition at Gallery 60 NYC, bringing together her experiences, influences, and creative evolution. With deep respect for tradition and an innovative vision, she continues to explore the possibilities of Japanese calligraphy as contemporary art.

GALLERY