From high fashion to Kabuki-style formalism to improvisational music assignments, to self-portraiture, Maki Kawakita creates edgy, contemporary images renowned for their bold performance elements and thought-provoking composition.
Kawakita's global photography reflects a diverse blend of the cultures that have most influenced and inspired her — Japanese, American and European. Fashion photography, editorial, advertising, portraiture,fine art and dance all provide avenues for her expression. Kawakita's professional work has recently taken her from the bustling streets of Manhattan and Tokyo to Milan and the remote landscapes of Tasmania, Turkey and Kuwait.
Kawakita's work has been featured in publications like Time, Marie Claire and Vibe, and she has shot advertising campaigns for Coors Light, Levi Strauss & Co., Virgin Records, Warner Music and Smirnoff. She also has photographed numerous celebrities: Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Paris Hilton, and Missy Elliott. She is supported by Olympus America, Lowepro, Livebooks and Adobe. Recent shows and accolades include a 2009 exhibition at Afad gallery in Turkey, a 2008 exhibition at NMM Gallery in Milan, Italy; a 2008 award for portraiture from the Prix de la Photographie in Paris; and selection in 2007 by Commercial Photography as one of the best 100 photographers of Japan. She also gives lectures and workshops throughout America and across the globe.