Sly Morikawa is an artist and photographer whose sensitive, dreamlike photographs capture the intuitive interplay between intimacy and desire. Morikawa explores the dualities of the human experience—light and dark, calm and chaos, beauty and tension—by drawing on recurring themes of sex, subculture, and self. Through her depictions of the angelic and the unorthodox, she invites viewers to reflect on their own agency, whilst presenting a world in which one can suspend biases and taboos.

Recent Press

Monster Children. (2026, August). Sly Morikawa’s Devotion. Monster Children.

Dimitroff, C. (2026, August). Sly Morikawa’s ‘Devotion’ captures the beautfiul chaos of Sanja Matsuri. RUSSH.

Daly-Hyatt, L. (2026, August). To shake the soul: ‘Devotion’ with Sly Morikawa. A-M Journal.

Burke, J. (2025, October). Sly Morikawa. SURPLUS Magazine. 1, 90–99.

Purple ART. (2024, November). Sly Morikwa’s book release “City of Roses” at Salt and Pepper, Tokyo. Purple.

Moore, S. (2024, November). Sly Morikawa on her photo book ‘Devotion’. to Be.

Salt and Pepper (2024, October). Don’t think. Grind, 109(True Colors Issue), 222–223.

White, J (2024, August). Photographers in focus: Sly Morikawa. Nowness Asia.

Gerakaris, C (2024, April–June). Sly Morikawa. Art Collector, 108(Undiscovered & Underrated Issue), 96.

Richards, A (2023, December). Meet the cover artist: Sly Morikawa. Vice, 1(1, The Crafted Issue), 81.

Pirovic, J. (2023, October). Beneath the dreamy haze of Sly Morikawa’s ‘White Socks’ photo series. RUSSH.

Dinsdale, E. (2023, October). This zine explores the erotic potential of white socks. Dazed.

Warner, M. (2023, August). Sly Morikawa’s ethereal photographs reveal her dreamy inner life. Dazed.

Richards, A. (2023, August). White Socks, Hot Girls, and Blowing Up a Car: The World of Sly Morikawa. VICE.

Russell, E. (2023, January). Photographing sex, subculture & self in Tokyo. i-D.

Awards

2023 Dazed 100: Art & Photography Category, Dazed