MOTOMICHI, a Japanese-born artist and graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, is an award-winning immersive and projection mapping artist and educator based in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
His work reflects personal experiences and explores themes that have fascinated him since childhood, including irrational fears and a curiosity for mythical monsters. Using a three-color palette and a bold graphic style, he creates playful yet striking imagery reminiscent of a child's perspective. His visual approach is influenced by his Japanese roots and enriched by his experiences living in the U.S. and Latin America.
His animated films have been screened at Sundance Film Festival, Onedotzero Festival, Pictoplasma, and Holland International Film Festival, among others. His recent experimental film, Okami, won at The Leeds International Film Festival. His projection installations have been exhibited globally in numerous museums and galleries, including the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, Winzavod - Moscow Contemporary Art Center, Olympia Park Munich, MARCO in Monterrey, and Gaîté Lyrique in Paris.
Commercially, he has worked on projects for MTA Design & Arts New York, Channel 4, EA, MTV, USA Networks, and UNIQLO, and has produced short films and music videos for artists including Nicola Cruz and the Swedish band The Knife, earning him international recognition.
His innovative approach to digital media has led to a new collaboration with Web3 creative studio SUYE, where he will expand into blockchain and digital collectibles, merging his artistic vision with cutting-edge technology.
Exhibitions
2025 “Cannonballs”, Balloon Museum, San Francisco, U.S.
2024 “Cannonballs”, Balloon Museum, Dusseldorf, Germany
2024 “Bunnies On the Run”, Projection installation, Amiens, France
2024 “Cannonballs”, Balloon Museum, London, U.K.
2023 “Deep Sea”, Chongqing Light Festival, Chongqing, China
2023 “NYC 3000”, commissioned by MTA Arts & Design, Fulton Station Center, NYC
2023 “Red Eyes”, Outdoor Immersive Installation, Drachten, The Netherlands
2023 “Hold My Gaze”, Silent Green, Berlin, Germany
2023 “Shadows and Light”, Solo exhibition, NowHere, SOHO, NY.
2022 Projection at Kaboom Animation Film Festival Opening, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2021 Projection at The Arc Museum, Daegu, South Korea
2021 “Monsters Among Us”, Solo exhibition, NowHere, SOHO, NY
2020 “Giant Salamander”, ZAZ10TS, Times Square, NY
2019 “When the night falls”, 150 media stream, Chicago, U.S.
2019 “MOTOMICHI”, Spriten Kunsthall, Solo Exhibition, Skien, Norway
2017 “Tiny People Tribe”, Munich Olympic Center, Munich, Germany
2015 “JACK”, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Mexico
2014 Crypto-Animation, Solo Exhibition, Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia
2012 Nuit Blanche, Immersive Installation,Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris, France
2011 Missing Link, video installation, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris, France
2008 “Red Eyes”, Solo Exhibition, Moscow Contemporary Art Center Winzavod, Moscow, Russia
2005 Artbase 101, New Museum of Contemporary Art, NYC
Screenings
2022 Kaboom Animation Film Festival, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2020 Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Stuttgart, Germany
2019 London International Animation Festival, London, UK
2019 Leeds International Film Festival, Leeds, UK - Winner
2019 SICAF 2019, Seoul, South Korea
2019 Pictoplasma Festival, Berlin, Germany
2016 Linoleum Media Art Festival, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 37th Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Uppsala, Sweden
2014 Winter Festival, Tate St Ives, London, UK
2014 Holland Animation Film Festival, Utrecht, The Netherlands - Winner
2014 Internationales Trickfilm-Festival Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
2010 Cannes AVIFF Art Film Festival, Cannes, France
2009 16th Stuttgart International Festival of Animation Film, Stuttgart, Germany
2008 SXSW, Austin, Texas. - Finalist
2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival, Scorland
2004 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, U.S.
2004 New York Video Festival at Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, U.S.
Awards and Honors
2022 Shortlisted, Chongqing Light Art Festival, Chongqing, China
2021 Third place winner - I CUBE Immersive Experience Competition, Fuzhou, China
2019 Winner -The Leeds International Film Festival, Leeds, UK
2008 Finalist - Music Video category, SXSW, TX, U.S.
2007 Best Music Video, Platform International Animation Festival, Portland, U.S.
2001 Distinctive Merit Award New Media, The 80th Art Directors Annual, New York, U.S.
Teachings
2023 ~ current Adjunct Professor at New York University ITP, NYC
2021 ~ current Adjunct Professor at School of Visual Arts, NYC
2016-21 Adjunct Professor at The New School Parsons, NYC
Grant and Festival Juries
2024 Paseo Project, Artist Residency, Jury
2023 New York State Council on the Arts, Interdisciplinary, Film, Media, and New Technology Grant Panelist
2022 Kaboom Film Festival, International Shorts category, The Netherlands
2012 Chilemono, International Shorts category, Chile
2009 Holland Animation Festival, International Shorts category
2009 Society of Illustrators Annual 52nd, Book category
Artist Residencies
2022 Paseo Project, Artist Residency, Taos, New Mexico
2021 PORTAL Governors Island Artist Residency, NYC
2020 Montana Colors virtual residency, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Rencontres Audiovisuelles, Video Mapping Festival, Lille, France
2010 St.Lawrence University, Visiting artist, Canton, New York
Permanent Collection
Digitalcraft, Museum of Applied Arts, Frankfurt, Germany
Sundance Institute UCLA Archive
Artport, Whitney Museum of American Art
