Dane Nakama

About

Ceramicist and painter whose work has been displayed in international exhibitions in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Miami, and Japan. Their art show "Talk Story" was showcased by FLUX Hawaii and they has also been featured in Voyage LA Magazine, It's Lit with PhDJ, and INPRNT. They have also shared their artwork and philosophical thoughts in videos on their umeboi TikTok account, which has amassed more than 350,000 followers.

Before Fame

They attended the Fine and Studio Arts program at Chapman University before transferring to and graduating from the California Institute of the Arts with a bachelor's degree in Fine and Studio Arts in 2021. The following year, they began their employment as a program director at the FishSchool art education center. Their first gallery show, "Mukashi Mukashi," premiered at the beginning of 2021.

Trivia

They have become known for their trademark two dots which appear on many of their art pieces. They utilize the dots as a way of encouraging a relationship between spectators and the art, as they found that most people tend to perceive the two dots as eyes. In a 2021 interview, they also described their use of the two dots as a way of "bridging the gap between cuteness and conceptualism."

Family Life

Their mother worked as a third grade teacher, while their father taught seventh grade history. They have on sister. They have described their great-aunt, who turned 100 in 2020, as one of their biggest supporters.

Associated With

They have posted videos on their TikTok account featuring the songs of artists such as Mitski, Doja Cat, and Olivia Rodrigo.