Kiyo Murakami was born in Shizuoka, Japan, and is now based in Tokyo. After graduating from art school, she experimented with illustration, design, and music before discovering photography. She found that photography was the best way to express herself and her unique vision.
KIYO MURAKAMI at a glance
- Born: Shizuoka, Japan
- Nationality: Japanese, based in Tokyo
- Known for: Dreamlike self-portraits and fantasy worlds
- Medium: Photography and photo-manipulation
- Influences: Surrealism, old paintings, classic picture books, music and movies
- Collaborations: Corset brand abilletage, for an exhibition in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district
- Official website: kiyomurakami.com
She draws inspiration from paintings, music, and movies, particularly old paintings and classic picture books. Her most creative ideas come from her childhood memories and dreams. She often creates self-portraits, which she sees not as narcissistic but as an adventure in self-discovery that can be therapeutic.
She loves to collaborate with talented friends, musicians, and performers who help fuel her creativity. Her work combines photography and photo-manipulation to create fantasy worlds that feel both dreamlike and deeply personal. She shoots in RAW format and uses Photoshop CS5 for editing.
“When I was little, I really loved surreal art because it can transport us to other worlds.”
Her primary camera gear includes a Canon EOS 5D MkII with a 28-135mm zoom, a 50mm f1.4 prime lens, and a 20mm f2.8 prime lens. A single image can take up to 4 hours to shoot and an additional 4 to 8 hours in post-processing. Collaborative work often takes longer with sketches and idea exchanges.
She has collaborated with Japan’s exclusive women’s corset brand abilletage for an exhibition in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. She surrounds herself with creative and talented friends who inspire her work. Her art continues to evolve as she explores new concepts and techniques.
Her work has been featured on pxleyes.com in an interview about her mind-blowing photo manipulations. She is known for creating fantasy worlds through her photography and digital art. Her style is influenced by surrealism and her Japanese heritage.
Q: What defines Kiyo Murakami’s artistic approach?
A: Her unique blend of photography and photo-manipulation to create dreamlike, surreal worlds. She draws inspiration from childhood memories, old paintings, and classic films. Her work is a form of self-discovery and often involves collaboration with other creative individuals.
If her dreamlike photography speaks to you too, you can see more of Kiyo Murakami’s work on her official website.