Aya Kitagawa happened into her career as an artist, which she has now done full-time for five years. Her canvas of choice is nails. 

Aya was an athletic trainer by education. On the occasion of her engagement, thinking of how she wanted her hands to display her engagement ring, she had a vision of how she wanted her nails prepared. She could find no one to execute that vision and decided to become someone who could. She would, of course, need to go for certification as a nail technician, but her goal was to bring artistry to her work and help others express themselves through the nails they wear.

Aya has created a vast array of art, completing 1-2 sets of nails each day, with every nail being a miniaturized masterpiece painted with patience and passion and paintbrushes often just three hairs thick. Her daily challenge is working on a curved surface without the figures looking distorted, with characters sometimes stretching between nails, and the need for the nail to look pleasing from all sides. This challenge is met by her innate talent. 

Aya has created nail-size versions of requests as varied as “The Starry Night” and Hogwarts Castle. In one week, she will do a Rococo style, Hello Kitty, and board game wedding set. She is known for her Japanese anime and 2-D character art. She is a pioneer in character art on nails and teaches classes often. 

She even incorporates special effects into her art. She’s creating disappearing footprints on a Marauder’s Map, a Sleeping Beauty dress which changes from pink to blue, appearing/disappearing shadows on Alastor from Hazbin Hotel, and a Disney castle with fireworks which come out at night. 

Aya creates truly wearable art.