Saitama, b. 1982

Ikumi Nakada is an artist who captures the pure emotions of childhood and inner landscapes through delicate brushstrokes, precise pencil lines, and soft color palettes. Her work often centers on children (or childlike figures), surrounded by spaces and objects rendered in dreamy and nostalgic tones. Drawing from her observations of children’s behavior, her pieces evoke both the innocence of youth and the bittersweet nostalgia of adulthood. Using oil paints and pencils, she meticulously reimagines childhood memories in pastel hues, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in their own past emotions. The children in her artworks often display serene or nonchalant expressions, appearing like remnants of forgotten feelings from adulthood. Born in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, Ikumi Nakada earned a degree in literature and art from Seijo University and later studied illustration at the Vantan Design Institute. Her works have been exhibited in various countries, including Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and China. In 2021, her piece Not Angry was auctioned at Ravenel in Taipei, achieving a final bid of $14,561.