Jeff Nishinaka is a paper sculptor from Los Angeles whose handcrafted work is commissioned around the globe by private and public companies and celebrities. From ethereal lines in a mythical creature to geometric shapes in a cityscape, Nishinaka draws from fantasy and reality to create monochromatic objects in relief. His fascination with art started at a young age, as a fan of Norman Rockwell, 1960s cartoons, Marvel comic books and the Japanese comic book “Astro Boy.” After attending University of California, Los Angeles, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Paper became Nishinaka’s medium of choice as an art student. Instead of choosing matchsticks, nails or clay for a class project, he challenged himself by using paper to create a multidimensional fish sculpture. During this creative process, he felt compelled to discover new ways to shape, bend and round edges on different types of paper. He felt destined to be a paper artist.
Nishinaka’s work has been featured in numerous galleries, public art displays, retail displays and ad campaigns for clients such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Ralph Lauren, United Airlines, Clinique, MGM Studios, Lexus, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Qualcomm and Iggesund Paperboard. He has created more than 40 custom sculptures for martial arts expert and actor Jackie Chan. Art publications from around the world and media outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, V Magazine and The Atlantic have touted his work.
The artist attributes his successful 30-year career to the special relationship he has with paper. He feels that the medium has an energy and life of its own and that it is his part to release or reveal what is already there. Trying not to overwork or force paper into submission, he lets the beauty of paper speak for itself. Each sculpture begins with an idea, a rough sketch and research. When ready to construct, Nishinaka uses simple tools: a pencil, X-Acto knife, wood dowel, tweezers, glue and an eraser. Above all, his most treasured tools are his hands. To him, the human touch lends a textural quality that cannot be achieved digitally. Adhering to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, Nishinaka meticulously creates each element of a structure with great precision, patience and passion.
To Nishinaka, creating art for clients is just as fun as it is teaching it. He serves as an instructor at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he says “fresh young minds” inspire and motivate him to continually refine his skills. Along with teaching, Nishinaka enjoys traveling, playing the drums, building model airplanes and sharing tips about his craft with social media followers.
CLIENTS
20th Century Fox
3M Company
Alcon Pharmaceuticals
America West Airlines
Art Center College of Design
Avon Books
Better Homes & Gardens
Blue Cross
Bob Evans Farms
Broderbund
Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas
Carls Jr. Restaurants
Citibank
Coca Cola
Computer World
Concern 2
Continental Vending Inc.
CSX Transportation
Denny’s Restaurants
Double Day Books
Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals
Flamingo Hilton Las Vegas
Frito Lay Inc.
The Gas Company
Georgia Pacific
The Grammys
Hewlett-Packard
Home Team Sports
Hughes Aircraft Company
IBM
John Hancock Mutual Life
Kaiser Permanente
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kibun
KPIX Channel 5 TV San Francisco
LA Times Magazines
The Lion King (The Musical)
Lucent Technologies
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Mattel/Barbie
Medallion Books
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Milton Bradley
Modern Maturity Magazine
Monsanto Magazine
Nabisco
Natural Health Magazine
NBC Television (Our House T.V. Program)
NFL Properties
Nippon Express/Japan Airlines
Nissan USA
Nissin Foods USA
Northwest Airlines
Paramount Pictures
PC Magazine
Philip Morris
Pillsbury
Pizza Inn
Playboy Jazz Festival
Playboy Magazine
Prentice Hall Publishing Company
Prudential Bank of Hawaii
Quaker Oats
Richard Simmons Salad Spray
Saddleback Hospital
San Diego Charger Football
Santa Anita Park
Sapporo Beer
Savin Corporation
Sesame Street
Silver, Burdett & Ginn Publishing
Simon & Schuster
Small World Toys
Smokey Bear
Southwest Airlines
Sprint
Syntex Pharmaceuticals
Texas Utilities Company
Toyota
Tropical Sunglasses
U.S. News and World Report Magazine
U.S. Postal Service
United Way
Visa
Warner Books
Weider Signature Lines
Xerox
Yamaha Stereo
Yamato Transport Co.
Yellow Pages
Zebra Books