Artist Interview: Fumi
Carving Stillness in a Noisy World: Chat with Fumi Nakamura
Written by SOONNESS / March 7, 2026 / Profile photo: Artist Fumi Nakamura's work desk
Not all worlds are built loudly. Fumi Nakamura’s unfold in quiet layers, revealing themselves only to those willing to pause.
Raised in Japan and shaped by nearly two decades in New York, Fumi learned early how it feels to stand between languages, expectations, and identities. Drawing became her anchor — a place to translate what could not yet be spoken. Over time, that private act grew into intricate scenes filled with animals, foliage, and quiet emotion.
For Petite Soldiers, fifteen of her illustrations gather as tiny guardians — each one a small meditation on empathy, presence, and mono no aware (物の哀れ): the gentle ache of impermanence. In this interview, Fumi shares how contrast, observation, and long walks continue to shape her evolving body of work.
Image above: Tomorrow is our Permanent Address (2025) by Fumi Nakamura
Early Life & Inspirations
You grew up in Japan and later moved to the U.S. How did those two different environments shape the way you see and create?
Cynical would be the easiest way to put it haha. Japanese culture and American culture are like water and oil. And oh boy, it continued to collide and confused me both mentally/emotionally for a long time. When I moved to the US, I had to start from zero and didn't speak/understand english at all. I felt like I needed to fit in because I knew I had no choice but to survive out here. Everyone around me was nice but I always felt a little off. I wanted to fit in and be accepted in both cultures but I felt an invisible wall among others and struggled with that idea. I observed a lot and saw both great and terrible sides of both cultures and environments. So I drew a lot to express things I couldn't describe in words. It was my strength. Eventually I came to accept the fact that I am a hybrid and I am able to relate to both sides. This opportunity has granted me to discover myself deeper, forced me to draw more, understand my inner self, and become bilingual (yay).
Do you remember the moment when drawing started to feel meaningful to you — more than just a hobby?
I always drew but after I moved to the US, it became a safe place to express my inner emotions. a few years later in high school, I began sharing my work online using Live Journal, which was popular at the time and all my high school friends were on it. I connected with so many people around the world and began receiving a lot of feedbacks and messages, and sold some of my drawings there. It became more than a daily routine from that point, to something more serious.
Artistic Process & Style
You often work with graphite and colored pencils. What do you enjoy about these materials?
I love the sound and feeling through the pencil abrasion on paper. It stimulates my mind and I find it meditative. Also unlike painting, I don't have to wait for the medium to dry. I am impatient.
Your pieces feel very layered and detailed. When you start a new drawing, what usually comes first — a feeling, an image, or something else?
Both feeling and imagery come together since I strongly believe both have to unite together in order to build a bond. In the past, I used to directly draw onto the paper one image at a time without planning it out (my focus was about capturing "moments" at that time and creating collage-like works). However lately, I've been sketching and planning carefully before the initial drawings and focusing on specific moments and subjects I find interesting. I'd like to experiment different approaches in the future as my state of mind will likely change and creating work is a life-time journey.
Nature shows up often in your work. What draws you to plants, animals, and natural forms?
I grew up surrounded by nature and always felt this special warm feeling whenever I am in nature. In Japanese, we have a word called shinrin-yoku, which it translate as "forest bathing" in English and means therapeutic relaxation in forest and natural setting and engaging connection with nature. Every time I go on hiking or take a long walk at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, I feel rejuvenated and it reminds me to live life to the fullest. We can learn so much from nature and the closer we are to it, we can find better life. Nature is truly the best teacher.
Do you have any small habits or routines that help you get into a creative flow?
- Keep two separate sketchbooks/journal - one for schedules and important notes; and other one is a pocket sized notebook for strictly writing down thoughts and small sketches when I am outside
- Minimize using and relying on electronic devices
- Having less things and appreciating the simplicity in life
Mini Puzzle Collection: Petite Soldiers
Have you imagined your work as puzzles? What was your initial reaction when SOONNESS reached out?
Some people mentioned how they'd like my work in puzzles before (it's interesting how others visualized my work in another formats besides and beyond drawings). When SOONNESS contacted, I was super excited even though it took me a while to commit to making one. I originally imagined making petite soldiers series to playing cards but I think mini puzzles were meant to be! Thank you, SOONNESS!
SOONNESS chose 15 of your existing illustrations for this collection. How did it feel to see your work selected and turned into mini puzzles?
Too cute! I'm so happy my hammies (hamsters) will be in action!
Did seeing your art in puzzle form change the way you looked at these pieces?
Not particularly any different for my end, but I think this will give an opportunity to experience my art for puzzlers and audiences - they might develop new feelings and thoughts beyond my imagination, which is exciting.
Do the 15 chosen artworks share a connection in your eyes — a mood, a theme, or a time in your life?
Probably close to a theme like the term "spirit animal." We all associate or mirror ourselves with animals in someway. What's yours?
What do you hope puzzlers experience when they build these tiny puzzle scenes piece by piece?
I hope by completing each puzzle, puzzlers will take these small furry soldiers with them to daily life/journey and enjoy life as is.
Themes, Life & Growth
Living in New York brings a very different energy from Japan. How does the city influence your creativity today?
It's chaotic living here haha. I am approaching twentieth year mark soon, and oh boy, there are so many great to weird to unexplainable things that have happened while living here. New York is full of life and I try to incorporate that into my work. My partner and I go everywhere to explore around boroughs and there are just so much to see, feel and experience. I've been keeping journals of all the things I've encountered and when you start to focus on what's around us, it feels like watching an endless film, similar to the film 'Slacker' by Richard Linklater. I also really like the fact that you can be anything here because people here tend to not mind your business.
When you feel stuck or drained, what helps you reconnect with your art?
Go for a long walk!
Looking Ahead
What are you excited to explore next — in your art or in your life?
This year is the first year I am fully booked until the end of the year to do many exhibitions, so I am excited to concentrate on developing a new body of work/new series. I am excited to burn my life to make many drawings ahead.
If you could introduce puzzlers to one Japanese concept — a word, a belief, or an artistic idea you feel deeply connected to, what would it be and why?
Mono no aware (物の哀れ) - The pathos of things/empathy towards things. Life is short and we tend to focus on the wrong things and often miss the important things in front of us, and forget to truly feel.