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Yoshi Sodeoka is a Japanese-born multimedia artist and musician celebrated for his groundbreaking work across video, GIFs, print, and NFTs. Trained as an oil painter from age five and as a guitarist from thirteen, Sodeoka blends traditional artistic roots with cutting-edge digital media. Based in New York since his 1990s move from Yokohama, Japan, and studies at Pratt Institute, his art reflects a neo-psychedelic aesthetic inspired by punk, metal, and experimental music.<\/p>\n
Renowned for integrating video feedback, found imagery, and original soundscapes, Sodeoka has also become a pioneer in the NFT space, with projects exploring themes of organic systems, virtual environments, and algorithmic design. His work has been featured in collaborations with musical icons like Metallica and Tame Impala, leading publications such as The New York Times and Wired, and campaigns for Nike and Apple. Exhibited globally in venues like the Centre Pompidou and SFMOMA, Sodeoka continues to push boundaries in digital and contemporary art.<\/p>\n
Sodeoka will have his MakersPlace debut at Miami Digital Art Fair 2024 with his series Spectral Null. <\/em><\/p>\n Brady Walker: Could you start by telling me a little about yourself and your journey as an artist?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Yoshi Sodeoka: I\u2019m a video artist based in NYC. I grew up in Yokohama, Japan, and moved to New York in the \u201990s to attend Pratt Institute, where I studied art. I\u2019ve been living and working here ever since.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n BW: What was the process like making a life as an experimental video artist before NFTs and even before Instagram and YouTube? What were your distribution outlets, and how did you make a living?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n YS: I\u2019ve been creating digital art for over two decades, so NFTs are relatively new to me\u2014they\u2019re just an added income stream. Before NFTs, I worked independently or sometimes with art galleries to sell prints. Collaboration has always been a big part of my practice, and I\u2019ve taken on commissions over the years. I\u2019ve directed music videos for bands like Tame Impala, Metallica, and Max Cooper. Thankfully, these projects weren\u2019t typical client jobs\u2014they approached me because of my work as a video artist, so I had the creative freedom to make what I wanted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to music videos, I\u2019ve created editorial animations for publications like The New York Times<\/em>, MIT Technology Review<\/em>, and Wired<\/em>. These projects feel like an extension of my artistic practice rather than commercial work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n BW: Do you remember the moment you first saw a piece of video art and thought, \u201cThat\u2019s it. That\u2019s what I\u2019m doing now\u201d?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n YS: Not sure I can pinpoint to just one. But I still remember watching Colorful Colorado<\/em> by Phil Morton and I loved it a lot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n
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