Lily Okamoto

Based in Iga, Mie, Lily Okamoto explores the curation of Ma (間)—the relational space between viewer and artwork—through abstract painting and writing. After six years in product development across several startups, she expanded her artistic practice across Mie, the Kansai region, and Europe, particularly France. Having recently returned from travels in Switzerland and France, Okamoto is currently rethinking the relationship between urban design and shizen (自然)—a Japanese term encompassing both nature as environment and the natural state of being. At UMILABO in Shima, Mie, Okamoto proposes ways of moving forward with local residents by using art to raise questions around marine environment challenges. Okamoto’s work, which encompasses exhibitions and art books, reflects on inner and ecological landscapes shaped through her ongoing experience of moving between rural and urban contexts. Last Updated: 2025.08