2026 NowHere Studio Program
Artist-in-Residence: Maiko Kikuchi
We’re excited to announce Maiko Kikuchi as the 2026 artist-in-residence for the NowHere Studio Program, a year-long residency that provides studio space in DUMBO and culminates in a solo exhibition at NowHere’s Tribeca location. She will be taking over from departing artist Hiroshi Masuda.
Launched in 2024, the NowHere Studio Program supports artists with a dedicated workspace, public engagement opportunities, and an exhibition platform.
Tokyo–born and New York City–based, Kikuchi is a multidisciplinary artist working across illustration, painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, animation, puppetry, and performance. She builds surreal, handcrafted worlds that sit between reality and the uncanny. Her puppetry and performance works—written, directed, and performed by the artist—have been presented at venues including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Public Theater, and La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club.
An MFA graduate in Sculpture from Pratt Institute, her practice layers memory, subconscious imagery, and poetic abstraction into narratives that are humorous, tender, and emotionally resonant.
“The NowHere Studio Program is a cornerstone of our mission to empower Japanese artists and foster cultural exchange through art,” said Kentaro Totsuka, Director of NowHere. “We’re thrilled to welcome Maiko, whose work moves fluidly between visual art and performance—building richly detailed worlds that are at once surreal, playful, and deeply felt.”
“Creating visible daydreams and sharing them with others is why I make what I make,” said Kikuchi. “Through this program, I will create a new daydream inspired by Japanese mythology. It feels like such a generous opportunity—not only to create, but to share that creation with many people. I'm thrilled to share how this daydream grows and takes shape in the DUMBO studio over the coming year.”
During her residency, Kikuchi will host monthly open studio events, offering the public an ongoing opportunity to visit the studio and engage with her process.
We’re looking forward to introducing Maiko’s new work to NowHere audiences!
More info
Web: maikokikuchiart.com | NowHere Studio Program
Social: @maikokikuchi_nyc
Read: About Maiko’s show at NowHere in 2024 on Hyperallergic
Watch: Maiko’s (Bushiwick) studio tour on NowHere’s Instagram