Growing up, Mei Kawajiri loved to paint. She especially loved painting the many religious temples in her hometown of Kyoto, Japan. Kawajiri always included a bright-blue sky in her artwork. “I hung all the paintings in my room on the wall, so it looked like I always had a sky in my room,” says Kawajiri.

After high school, Kawajiri wanted to become an artist. But she didn’t want her art to hang on walls. She wanted people to wear it—on their nails!

Now Kawajiri lives in New York City. She creates amazing three-dimensional (3-D) nail sculptures of everything from croissants and swans to dirty socks! Some of her clients include model Gigi Hadid and musician Dua Lipa. These celebrities wear Kawajiri’s nail art at awards shows and photo shoots. Kawajiri spoke with SuperSTEM about how she creates her over-the-top designs.

Mei Kawajiri loved to paint when growing up. She really loved painting religious temples. There were many in her hometown of Kyoto, Japan. Kawajiri always added a bright-blue sky in her artworks. “I hung all the paintings in my room on the wall,” says Kawajiri. “So it looked like I always had a sky in my room.”

Kawajiri wanted to become an artist after high school. But she didn’t want her art to hang on walls. She wanted people to wear it on their nails!

Now Kawajiri lives in New York City. She makes amazing three-dimensional (3-D) nail sculptures. Picture croissants, swans, and even dirty socks! Some of her clients are famous. They include model Gigi Hadid and musician Dua Lipa. They wear Kawajiri’s nail art at awards shows and photo shoots. Kawajiri spoke with SuperSTEM about how she creates her over-the-top designs.

I went to a nail school to learn the basics. I always arrived two hours early so I could try the nail products while nobody was there. The teachers showed me techniques like how to cut and prepare a client’s nails, paint evenly, and take care of my tools. But for anything more creative, I had to experiment on my own. I started practicing on myself, my brother, my mom and dad, and friends.

I went to a nail school to learn the basics. I always arrived two hours early. Then I could try the nail products while nobody was there. The teachers showed me techniques. For example, they taught how to cut and prepare a client’s nails. They also showed me how to paint evenly and take care of my tools. But I learned on my own for anything more creative. I started practicing on myself, my brother and parents, and friends.

Nails are my finishing touch for any look, and I feel incomplete without them. Usually my nails are long, but I have a young child so I’m keeping them short for now. When I am dressing up, I will temporarily apply nail tips with glue or stickers.

I have a “nail museum” with art I’ve created for myself and some clients. It has hundreds of nails! For me, nails are an accessory—just like jewelry or shoes.

Nails are my finishing touch for any look. And I feel incomplete without them. Usually, my nails are long. But I have a young child. So I’m keeping them short for now. I temporarily apply nail tips with glue or stickers when I am dressing up.

I have a “nail museum.” It has art I’ve created for myself and clients. It has hundreds of nails! Nails are an accessory for me, just like jewelry or shoes.