As a multidisciplinary creative and digital enthusiast, my relationship with creativity has always been evolving. It’s taken me on a journey through various industries and countries— from the world of luxury and digital transformation to designing for international clients and now embracing my role as an emerging artist with multiple creative ventures.

At one point, I found myself grappling with the challenge of managing three or four separate websites as a solopreneur. My vision felt expansive, perhaps too ambitious or surreal for one person to maintain. After years of feeling stuck and overwhelmed battling with creative ideas I wanted to bring into the world, a moment of clarity struck (with a little help from awesome people): why not bring everything under one roof?

Taking a step back allowed me to realign my efforts into a cohesive vision that feels both fun and manageable. After all, we can only accomplish so much in a day, and we should focus on what inspires us and brings joy. Just because I can build websites across various platforms doesn’t mean I have to do it.

And so, we embark on a brand new chapter: my art, design studio, and creative experiences all come together on this new website. Welcome!

A Creative Evolution

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of wearing many hats. From working for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton to delivering projects for Harley Davidson, heading up design teams for agencies and startups, and collaborating with fashion brands. Every journey taught me something about business, design, and digital growth—but mostly, it taught me about people. The thread connecting it all has always been my passion for creative expression, and visual design, along with an appreciation for aesthetic beauty and the impact our visual experiences have on us and our world.

Over time, while I still work with some amazing clients, my focus has shifted or rather also now accommodates my own art and creative studio. That's where the need to bring everything together became clear. As much as I love creating brands (I could seriously create one per week just for the fun of it), I wanted to create a space where all my passions and creations could live harmoniously. This space encompasses my work in digital design and strategy at IKU Studio, the evolving art collection I showcase in the gallery, my prints, my retail shop, and creative events.

Knowing myself, I have at least one new project every three months. Maybe it will slow down next year, but I'm not sure. It just felt right to have one website (for now) instead of building and maintaining a handful of them. Sometimes I don't know where I get these ideas. Anyone else who can relate? To do it all? We can be so positive and stubborn in our endeavors that we simply forget we're human, with two hands, one brain, and one heart.

Building a Space for Creativity to Thrive

By merging my artistic ventures with my design studio and print shop, I'm creating a more streamlined experience for my community. Here, you can not only follow my journey but also engage with every aspect of it. Whether you're a fellow creative looking for inspiration, someone searching for a unique art piece for your home, or an enthusiast interested in the early release of my upcoming book, there's something for you. This space accommodates creative events, quirky Japanese objects, learning opportunities, and everything in between.

Plettenberg Bay in South Africa is home to IKU Studio, my art gallery, and a soon-to-be-opened shop, where locals can visit, browse, and experience my work in person. For those around the world, my print shop offers a way to bring high-quality prints of my work directly to you. It's a labor of love and a relaunch of IKU Art Emporium, which I ran for a while about a year ago. I ship worldwide to most countries, and it's my absolute joy to bring more color and inspiration to the world by sharing my art globally.

A Journey in Progress

After building, growing, and improving brands around the world, I've decided it's time to grow my own. As I continue to develop this unified vision under my name, I want this space to evolve alongside me. From creative events in the studio to new art releases and inspiring posts, everything will be shared here. I'll also offer more personal insights into my creative process, the behind-the-scenes of my studio, my life as an artist, and lessons I've learned on my ongoing journey toward unapologetic artistic expression.

I'm excited about where this new direction is taking me and would love for you to be a part of it. Whether you're interested in my print shop, studio events, or simply following along with my story, I invite you to join me on this adventure. If you have specific topics you'd like me to write about, just fire off an email!

What’s Next?

As you explore the site, be sure to check out my newly opened print shop, where you'll find a curated selection of my favorite art prints. I'll be adding more artwork over time, balancing this with running my other businesses. If you're interested in being an advanced reader of my upcoming book, you can sign up here.

This is only the beginning of a new creative chapter, and I'm excited to see what unfolds next. Thank you for following along on this journey.