Project Space Resident

Lieh Sugai

December 1 – December 29, 2026

Artist’s Statement

In my practice, I utilize photography and video collage to explore themes of memory shared across people and places, examining how these memories are shaped by time, events, and cultural context. Having lived in America for over 25 years as a Japanese immigrant, I bring a dual perspective to my work, where the notion of “home” and its personal significance resonate profoundly. This sense of duality allows me to examine the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging as I navigate between my Japanese heritage and experiences in America.

My work reflects on the transient and evolving nature of memory, emphasizing how environments and interactions shape our recollections and, ultimately, our identities. Nostalgia often emerges, expressed through imagery that conveys both longing and impermanence. This focus on cultural and personal identity makes my practice both an introspective journey and a way of examining how memory and identity intersect across cultures.

Bio

Based in New York, Japanese-born visual artist Lieh Sugai works in photography and video to explore shared memories between people and places, and how they transform over time and through cultural shifts. A recipient of the 2025 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Photography and the 2024 En Foco Photography Fellowship, her work has been exhibited at Foley Gallery in New York, Les Rencontres d’Arles in France, and beyond. Her photography has also been featured in The Washington Post and Fisheye Magazine.

VSW Project Space Residencies are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the New York State Legislature, Monroe County, and Joy of Giving Something. Photography-based artists participating in the program receive support from the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation.