Emi Kusano is a Tokyo-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice integrates emerging technologies, including AI, to explore nostalgia, pop culture, and collective memory. Her work has been shown in over 20 countries at institutions such as M+ Museum (Hong Kong), Saatchi Gallery (London), Grand Palais Immersif (Paris), Museum Francisco Carolinum (Linz), and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. She was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2025.

Kusano began as a teenage street photographer documenting Harajuku fashion, which led to an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her background in photography and fashion informed her exploration of how mass media shapes individual and collective identity. 

By integrating AI and digital technologies into her creative process, Kusano positions technology as a partner rather than a defining element. Her works invite audiences to reconsider contemporary society through dialogues between past and present, expressed within a retro-futuristic aesthetic.






Selected shows  

Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival, M+ Museum, Hong Kong, 2025
New Dimensions: Expanded Consciousness, Mikke Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2025
Office Ladies, ArtVerse, Paris, France, 2025
RIVALS – Photography vs. Promptography, Galerie Guelman und Unbekannt, Berlin, Germany, 2025
The Second-Guess, House of Electronic Arts, Basel, Switzerland, 2025
AI: The Expo, Discovery Museum, Kerkrade, Netherlands, 2024
Untitled Art, Miami Beach, USA, 2024
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2024
AI Biennale, Essen: Reimagine Tomorrow, 1954–2024, Stiftung Zollverein und Digital Campus Zollverein, Essen, Germany, 2024
19th Digital Art Festival Taipei, Art Space IV, Future Square, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taipei, Taiwan, 2024
Artificial Dreams, MEET Digital Culture Centre, Milan, Italy, 2024
Art of Punk, Museum Francisco Carolinum, Linz, Austria, 2024
Kiaf SEOUL, Coex Exhibition Centre, Seoul, Korea, 2024
Artificial Dreams, Grand Palais Immersif, Paris, France, 2024
Now in Digital Art: Game Room, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024
Neural Fad: AI Dreams Nostalgia, NIPPON TV Imaginarium Award 2023, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
The Gateway Miami – Art Basel Miami, Ferena Forum, Miami, USA, 2023
DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, 2023
Long Live London, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2023
E-Motions, Unit London, London, UK, 2023
Future Frequencies: Explorations in Generative Art and Fashion (Christie’s 3.0 x Gucci), Rockefeller Center, New York, USA, 2023
Non Fungible Conference, Carlos Lopes Pavilion, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Bright Moments Tokyo, Shibuya Parco, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, 2020
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 2019
Art Hack Day, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo, Japan, 2018
Japan Fashion Now, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA, 2011

Selected Awards

Aesthetica Art Prize – Longlist, 2025
World Economic Forum – Young Global Leader, 2025
Sora Select – Feature Film, 2025
Currents New Media Art Award – Excellence Award, 2025
Lumen Prize – Finalist, 2024
Meta Morph Award – Winner, AI Video, 2024
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery – Winner, 2019Art Hack Day – Jury Award, 2018


Press

Emi Kusano on AI, Nostalgia, and Imagined Futures, Branding in Asia, 2025
Emi Kusano: Redefining AI Art, ART domain, 2025
From Content to Regional Revitalization: Web3 Enhances Japan’s Value, The Government Japan, 2025
Repainting the Past in a New Light with Generative Art, WIPO, 2025
Thirty-six Views on Nostalgia, Technostalgia, and Retrofuturism, Brooklyn Rail, 2025
Yokogao Magazine, 2025
Bridging Worlds | Digital Art Beyond Borders, Right Click Save, 2024
Emi Kusano Challenges AI’s Soul in “Advertising Humanity” Release on LG Art Lab, NFTnow, 2024
Spotlight on Emi Kusano and her winning AI Film "Morphing Memory of Neural Fad", Meta Morph Award, 2024
Emi Kusano Explores Buddhist Desire in “The Altar of Bonnō” Series, NFTnow, 2024
Exploring The Pop Paradox of Desire With Emi Kusano’s New Series, GALLERY, 2024
Emi Kusano: Fictional Futures and Cognitive Chaos AI and Nostalgia, Expanded.Art, 2024
In Conversation with Emi Kusano, OpenSea, 2024
Curated Conversations: Emi Kusano, SuperRare, 2024
Heno and Emi Kusano Discuss Lens Protocol and Web3 Creative Empowerment, NFT Now, 2023
The Artists of Femgen | Part 1, Right Click Save, 2023
Claire Silver and Emi Kusano Teamed up in a Digital Garment Auctioned by Christie’s and Gucci, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Redefining the Future: Essential Skills in the Age of AI Artistry — An Interview with Claire Silver & Emi Kusano, Forbes Japan (English ver.), 2023
Emi Kusano and Japan’s New Retro, Right Click Save, 2023
Reviving Former Japanese Culture through AI Photography: A Talk with Emi Kusano, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Deep dive into the 1980s with the music of Satellite Young, Japan Times, 2017


Selected shows  

Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival, M+ Museum, Hong Kong, 2025
New Dimensions: Expanded Consciousness, Mikke Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2025
Office Ladies, ArtVerse, Paris, France, 2025
RIVALS – Photography vs. Promptography, Galerie Guelman und Unbekannt, Berlin, Germany, 2025
The Second-Guess, House of Electronic Arts, Basel, Switzerland, 2025
AI: The Expo, Discovery Museum, Kerkrade, Netherlands, 2024
Untitled Art, Miami Beach, USA, 2024
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2024
AI Biennale, Essen: Reimagine Tomorrow, 1954–2024, Stiftung Zollverein und Digital Campus Zollverein, Essen, Germany, 2024
19th Digital Art Festival Taipei, Art Space IV, Future Square, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taipei, Taiwan, 2024
Artificial Dreams, MEET Digital Culture Centre, Milan, Italy, 2024
Art of Punk, Museum Francisco Carolinum, Linz, Austria, 2024
Kiaf SEOUL, Coex Exhibition Centre, Seoul, Korea, 2024
Artificial Dreams, Grand Palais Immersif, Paris, France, 2024
Now in Digital Art: Game Room, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024
Neural Fad: AI Dreams Nostalgia, NIPPON TV Imaginarium Award 2023, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
The Gateway Miami – Art Basel Miami, Ferena Forum, Miami, USA, 2023
DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, 2023
Long Live London, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2023
E-Motions, Unit London, London, UK, 2023
Future Frequencies: Explorations in Generative Art and Fashion (Christie’s 3.0 x Gucci), Rockefeller Center, New York, USA, 2023
Non Fungible Conference, Carlos Lopes Pavilion, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Bright Moments Tokyo, Shibuya Parco, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, 2020
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 2019
Art Hack Day, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo, Japan, 2018
Japan Fashion Now, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA, 2011

Selected Awards

Aesthetica Art Prize – Longlist, 2025
World Economic Forum – Young Global Leader, 2025
Sora Select – Feature Film, 2025
Currents New Media Art Award – Excellence Award, 2025
Lumen Prize – Finalist, 2024
Meta Morph Award – Winner, AI Video, 2024
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery – Winner, 2019Art Hack Day – Jury Award, 2018


Press

Emi Kusano on AI, Nostalgia, and Imagined Futures, Branding in Asia, 2025
Emi Kusano: Redefining AI Art, ART domain, 2025
From Content to Regional Revitalization: Web3 Enhances Japan’s Value, The Government Japan, 2025
Repainting the Past in a New Light with Generative Art, WIPO, 2025
Thirty-six Views on Nostalgia, Technostalgia, and Retrofuturism, Brooklyn Rail, 2025
Yokogao Magazine, 2025
Bridging Worlds | Digital Art Beyond Borders, Right Click Save, 2024
Emi Kusano Challenges AI’s Soul in “Advertising Humanity” Release on LG Art Lab, NFTnow, 2024
Spotlight on Emi Kusano and her winning AI Film "Morphing Memory of Neural Fad", Meta Morph Award, 2024
Emi Kusano Explores Buddhist Desire in “The Altar of Bonnō” Series, NFTnow, 2024
Exploring The Pop Paradox of Desire With Emi Kusano’s New Series, GALLERY, 2024
Emi Kusano: Fictional Futures and Cognitive Chaos AI and Nostalgia, Expanded.Art, 2024
In Conversation with Emi Kusano, OpenSea, 2024
Curated Conversations: Emi Kusano, SuperRare, 2024
Heno and Emi Kusano Discuss Lens Protocol and Web3 Creative Empowerment, NFT Now, 2023
The Artists of Femgen | Part 1, Right Click Save, 2023
Claire Silver and Emi Kusano Teamed up in a Digital Garment Auctioned by Christie’s and Gucci, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Redefining the Future: Essential Skills in the Age of AI Artistry — An Interview with Claire Silver & Emi Kusano, Forbes Japan (English ver.), 2023
Emi Kusano and Japan’s New Retro, Right Click Save, 2023
Reviving Former Japanese Culture through AI Photography: A Talk with Emi Kusano, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Deep dive into the 1980s with the music of Satellite Young, Japan Times, 2017


Selected shows  

Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival, M+ Museum, Hong Kong, 2025
New Dimensions: Expanded Consciousness, Mikke Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2025
Office Ladies, ArtVerse, Paris, France, 2025
RIVALS – Photography vs. Promptography, Galerie Guelman und Unbekannt, Berlin, Germany, 2025
The Second-Guess, House of Electronic Arts, Basel, Switzerland, 2025
AI: The Expo, Discovery Museum, Kerkrade, Netherlands, 2024
Untitled Art, Miami Beach, USA, 2024
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2024
AI Biennale, Essen: Reimagine Tomorrow, 1954–2024, Stiftung Zollverein und Digital Campus Zollverein, Essen, Germany, 2024
19th Digital Art Festival Taipei, Art Space IV, Future Square, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taipei, Taiwan, 2024
Artificial Dreams, MEET Digital Culture Centre, Milan, Italy, 2024
Art of Punk, Museum Francisco Carolinum, Linz, Austria, 2024
Kiaf SEOUL, Coex Exhibition Centre, Seoul, Korea, 2024
Artificial Dreams, Grand Palais Immersif, Paris, France, 2024
Now in Digital Art: Game Room, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024
Neural Fad: AI Dreams Nostalgia, NIPPON TV Imaginarium Award 2023, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
The Gateway Miami – Art Basel Miami, Ferena Forum, Miami, USA, 2023
DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, 2023
Long Live London, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2023
E-Motions, Unit London, London, UK, 2023
Future Frequencies: Explorations in Generative Art and Fashion (Christie’s 3.0 x Gucci), Rockefeller Center, New York, USA, 2023
Non Fungible Conference, Carlos Lopes Pavilion, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Bright Moments Tokyo, Shibuya Parco, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, 2020
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 2019
Art Hack Day, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo, Japan, 2018
Japan Fashion Now, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA, 2011

Selected Awards

Aesthetica Art Prize – Longlist, 2025
World Economic Forum – Young Global Leader, 2025
Sora Select – Feature Film, 2025
Currents New Media Art Award – Excellence Award, 2025
Lumen Prize – Finalist, 2024
Meta Morph Award – Winner, AI Video, 2024
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery – Winner, 2019Art Hack Day – Jury Award, 2018


Press

Emi Kusano on AI, Nostalgia, and Imagined Futures, Branding in Asia, 2025
Emi Kusano: Redefining AI Art, ART domain, 2025
From Content to Regional Revitalization: Web3 Enhances Japan’s Value, The Government Japan, 2025
Repainting the Past in a New Light with Generative Art, WIPO, 2025
Thirty-six Views on Nostalgia, Technostalgia, and Retrofuturism, Brooklyn Rail, 2025
Yokogao Magazine, 2025
Bridging Worlds | Digital Art Beyond Borders, Right Click Save, 2024
Emi Kusano Challenges AI’s Soul in “Advertising Humanity” Release on LG Art Lab, NFTnow, 2024
Spotlight on Emi Kusano and her winning AI Film "Morphing Memory of Neural Fad", Meta Morph Award, 2024
Emi Kusano Explores Buddhist Desire in “The Altar of Bonnō” Series, NFTnow, 2024
Exploring The Pop Paradox of Desire With Emi Kusano’s New Series, GALLERY, 2024
Emi Kusano: Fictional Futures and Cognitive Chaos AI and Nostalgia, Expanded.Art, 2024
In Conversation with Emi Kusano, OpenSea, 2024
Curated Conversations: Emi Kusano, SuperRare, 2024
Heno and Emi Kusano Discuss Lens Protocol and Web3 Creative Empowerment, NFT Now, 2023
The Artists of Femgen | Part 1, Right Click Save, 2023
Claire Silver and Emi Kusano Teamed up in a Digital Garment Auctioned by Christie’s and Gucci, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Redefining the Future: Essential Skills in the Age of AI Artistry — An Interview with Claire Silver & Emi Kusano, Forbes Japan (English ver.), 2023
Emi Kusano and Japan’s New Retro, Right Click Save, 2023
Reviving Former Japanese Culture through AI Photography: A Talk with Emi Kusano, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Deep dive into the 1980s with the music of Satellite Young, Japan Times, 2017


Selected shows  

Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival, M+ Museum, Hong Kong, 2025
New Dimensions: Expanded Consciousness, Mikke Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2025
Office Ladies, ArtVerse, Paris, France, 2025
RIVALS – Photography vs. Promptography, Galerie Guelman und Unbekannt, Berlin, Germany, 2025
The Second-Guess, House of Electronic Arts, Basel, Switzerland, 2025
AI: The Expo, Discovery Museum, Kerkrade, Netherlands, 2024
Untitled Art, Miami Beach, USA, 2024
Tokyo Art Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2024
AI Biennale, Essen: Reimagine Tomorrow, 1954–2024, Stiftung Zollverein und Digital Campus Zollverein, Essen, Germany, 2024
19th Digital Art Festival Taipei, Art Space IV, Future Square, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taipei, Taiwan, 2024
Artificial Dreams, MEET Digital Culture Centre, Milan, Italy, 2024
Art of Punk, Museum Francisco Carolinum, Linz, Austria, 2024
Kiaf SEOUL, Coex Exhibition Centre, Seoul, Korea, 2024
Artificial Dreams, Grand Palais Immersif, Paris, France, 2024
Now in Digital Art: Game Room, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024
Neural Fad: AI Dreams Nostalgia, NIPPON TV Imaginarium Award 2023, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
The Gateway Miami – Art Basel Miami, Ferena Forum, Miami, USA, 2023
DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, 2023
Long Live London, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK, 2023
E-Motions, Unit London, London, UK, 2023
Future Frequencies: Explorations in Generative Art and Fashion (Christie’s 3.0 x Gucci), Rockefeller Center, New York, USA, 2023
Non Fungible Conference, Carlos Lopes Pavilion, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Bright Moments Tokyo, Shibuya Parco, Tokyo, Japan, 2023
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, 2020
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 2019
Art Hack Day, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo, Japan, 2018
Japan Fashion Now, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA, 2011

Selected Awards

Aesthetica Art Prize – Longlist, 2025
World Economic Forum – Young Global Leader, 2025
Sora Select – Feature Film, 2025
Currents New Media Art Award – Excellence Award, 2025
Lumen Prize – Finalist, 2024
Meta Morph Award – Winner, AI Video, 2024
SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery – Winner, 2019Art Hack Day – Jury Award, 2018


Press

Emi Kusano on AI, Nostalgia, and Imagined Futures, Branding in Asia, 2025
Emi Kusano: Redefining AI Art, ART domain, 2025
From Content to Regional Revitalization: Web3 Enhances Japan’s Value, The Government Japan, 2025
Repainting the Past in a New Light with Generative Art, WIPO, 2025
Thirty-six Views on Nostalgia, Technostalgia, and Retrofuturism, Brooklyn Rail, 2025
Yokogao Magazine, 2025
Bridging Worlds | Digital Art Beyond Borders, Right Click Save, 2024
Emi Kusano Challenges AI’s Soul in “Advertising Humanity” Release on LG Art Lab, NFTnow, 2024
Spotlight on Emi Kusano and her winning AI Film "Morphing Memory of Neural Fad", Meta Morph Award, 2024
Emi Kusano Explores Buddhist Desire in “The Altar of Bonnō” Series, NFTnow, 2024
Exploring The Pop Paradox of Desire With Emi Kusano’s New Series, GALLERY, 2024
Emi Kusano: Fictional Futures and Cognitive Chaos AI and Nostalgia, Expanded.Art, 2024
In Conversation with Emi Kusano, OpenSea, 2024
Curated Conversations: Emi Kusano, SuperRare, 2024
Heno and Emi Kusano Discuss Lens Protocol and Web3 Creative Empowerment, NFT Now, 2023
The Artists of Femgen | Part 1, Right Click Save, 2023
Claire Silver and Emi Kusano Teamed up in a Digital Garment Auctioned by Christie’s and Gucci, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Redefining the Future: Essential Skills in the Age of AI Artistry — An Interview with Claire Silver & Emi Kusano, Forbes Japan (English ver.), 2023
Emi Kusano and Japan’s New Retro, Right Click Save, 2023
Reviving Former Japanese Culture through AI Photography: A Talk with Emi Kusano, WEB3ALLSTARS, 2023
Deep dive into the 1980s with the music of Satellite Young, Japan Times, 2017


ADDRESS

Carrer Llull, 134, 08005 Barcelona, Spain

CONTACT

visit@load-gallery.com

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
OPENING HOURS

4 PM — 8 PM, Thursday–Saturday

Gallery admission is free

For collectors, artists and potential collaborators visits are available by appointment—please email us to arrange a private viewing

@Load Gallery 2023-2025

ADDRESS

Carrer Llull, 134, 08005 Barcelona, Spain

CONTACT

visit@load-gallery.com

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

OPENING HOURS

4 PM — 8 PM, Thursday–Saturday

Gallery admission is free

For collectors, artists and potential collaborators visits are available by appointment—please email us to arrange a private viewing

@Load Gallery 2023-2025

ADDRESS

Carrer Llull, 134, 08005 Barcelona, Spain

CONTACT

visit@load-gallery.com

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
OPENING HOURS

4 PM — 8 PM, Thursday–Saturday

Gallery admission is free

For collectors, artists and potential collaborators visits are available by appointment—please email us to arrange a private viewing

@Load Gallery 2023-2025

ADDRESS

Carrer Llull, 134, 08005 Barcelona, Spain

CONTACT

visit@load-gallery.com

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

OPENING HOURS

4 PM — 8 PM, Thursday–Saturday

Gallery admission is free

For collectors, artists and potential collaborators visits are available by appointment—please email us to arrange a private viewing

@Load Gallery 2023-2025