Arizona Artist Spotlight: Weaving Community, Curiosity and Craft with Tomoki Ide
Published: 01/14/2026
Meet Greater Phoenix-based artist Tomoki Ide, featured in GPEC’s Color, Cloth & Culture Exhibit
Arriving in a new place has a way of sharpening attention. When artist Tomoki Ide arrived in Greater Phoenix from Japan two years ago, the world around him felt fresh—the lifestyle, food, everyday objects and even the smells stirred a persistent curiosity that would guide both his creative practice and his search for connection.
“Trust yourself,” says his wife.
That curiosity led Tomoki to explore the communities and creative spaces around him. He struggled to find his place after immigrating as he sought connections, groups and people who had similar experiences or were interested in cultural exchange.
“Trust yourself.”
Tomoki found points of entry through groups like the Japanese Culture Club of Arizona, to which he says he is indebted. Through guidance and connection, the club helped Ide get the opportunity to present his first solo show.
Community is built through care, not just proximity. This belief is clear through the local connections he has made, the art he creates, and his sentiment toward local food banks, for which he is moved by the “spirit of mutual support.”
These experiences also shaped how he understands the role of art and culture. “Only humans can draw pictures and create things,” he says. He believes art nurtures imagination, empathy and the ability to express what words often cannot. Just as importantly, he sees art as vital to children’s physical and mental development, and to foster attachment to place — a shared language that helps communities feel rooted and connected.
Those beliefs about creativity are inseparable from Tomoki’s own practice, through which he brings together tradition, intuition and observation, creating compositions that are both thoughtful and alive. That balance is central to his featured piece for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Color, Cloth & Culture exhibit, Woman in Yellow Kimono.
Inspired by his familiarity of the kimono, Woman in Yellow Kimono honors Tomoki’s Japanese heritage while reflecting Greater Phoenix’s diversity. The piece combines vivid acrylic tones with the freeform pattern-based art of Zentangle, creating a visual dialogue between tradition and modernity. Its golden hues evoke strength and dignity, while the intricate background invites viewers to interpret freely — gears, sunbursts or something entirely personal.
Tomoki uses intuition in his creative process. He rarely sketches beforehand, allowing patterns to emerge organically, and because he is guided by inspiration of the moment rather than tools, his designs aren’t always symmetrical.
“I sometimes worry,” he said. “Is it weird?”
“Trust yourself,” his wife responds.
“Those words have saved me countless times.”
This balance of observation, intuition and curiosity continues to define his approach to both art and community. Tomoki describes Greater Phoenix’s art scene as exciting, growing and historic — a place where tradition and innovation coexist, much like his own work.
“I’m looking forward to making even more connections within the community,” he said.