My photographic journey begins in the quiet fields of rural Japan
As a teenager from New York, I arrived curious and left transformed. Through my camera lens, I saw how simplicity could hold depth, and how design could exist as a form of philosophy.
The rhythm of nature stuck with me. When I returned home, the dialogue between East and West became my first true subject. I began pairing images, one rural with one urban, one ancient with one modern, to reveal the invisible connections that shape how we see.
Zemi means “cicada,” a symbol of transformation and awakening in Japanese culture. It’s become both my artist name and a framework for my work.
Since then my career path has moved between architecture, 3D printing, and business development. For decades, I’ve shaped spaces and ideas while working as a principal and consultant for firms operating at the intersection of art, technology, and sustainability.
Educated at The Cooper Union and Columbia University, my foundation in architecture continues to inform my visual practice. My work reflects a deep curiosity about how cultures construct beauty and meaning—a fascination first sparked during my years in Japan.