Ryuta Nakajima

Ryuta Nakajima was born in Tokyo, Japan. He grew up in many places around the world, including Lebanon, Kuwait, Switzerland, Egypt, and Japan. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Art and Design. Ryuta received his Ph.D. from Kyushu University in Design in 2019, MFA from the University of California San Diego in 1997, and is an ordained Esoteric Buddhist priest. Ryuta merges biology and art, publishing scientific papers on cephalopods behavior while highlighting art and design represented in this class of animals. He explores a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, and installation. In 2015, Ryuta launched Okinawa Seaside Laboratory, focusing on coral reef conservation working closely with local scientists and educators conducting lectures and workshops, especially for children from underprivileged families. ryutanakajimaworks.com