JINYA YAMAKAWA

PROFILE

Jinya Yamakawa (山川仁也, born 1998) is an artist & creative director, and the founder of JESSO CREATIVES. Raised in Hawaii and a graduate of an international school in Tokyo, he made his debut as a racing driver at a young age, competing on both domestic and international circuits. The focus and decisiveness he honed on the world stage of motorsport would later become integral to his creative vision and leadership. After an injury brought his racing career to an end, he shifted his path toward art, studying Fine Art at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He graduated in 2020 and began his journey onto the global stage.

He has collaborated with world-renowned partners such as Marc Jacobs, Dr. Martens, mastermind, PEACHES, and F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, bringing a unique approach that merges art and brand, tradition and modernity. Spanning custom artworks, branding, spatial design, and product creation, his multi-layered practice goes beyond visual decoration, deepening each brand’s philosophy and storytelling through art.

As an artist, Yamakawa’s work is anchored in the recurring theme of "MELTDOWN." This concept dissolves the boundaries between subject and background, reality and memory, emotion and material—combining striking visuals with thought-provoking narratives to leave room for the viewer’s own interpretation. His paintings and installations transcend pure aesthetics, generating new meaning within brand culture and popular culture alike.

As a leader, he has grown JESSO CREATIVES into a creative platform and cultural laboratory. By building networks with young talents across diverse disciplines, he provides direction for each to shine on the global stage while fostering collaborations that create a greater cultural resonance.