If there’s one thing nail artist Eichi Matsunaga isn’t afraid of, is making a statement. With features like hollowed-out nails, super-sized gems, or geometric cut-outs, his nail art is large and in charge; and his celebrity clientele follows suit, with a-listers like Mandy Moore, Nikki Minaj, and Mindy Kaling all sporting his nails.
Born in Japan, Matsunaga was inspired by his sister (a nail artist herself) and studies the art of the nail in Tokyo before making the big move to NYC. “It took some time for me to find nail art,” Matsunaga admitted once in an interview with Nylon. “I always wanted to do something creative with beauty, and realized that I’ve always been obsessed with detailed work. Nail art was a great way for me to explore that.”
With innovation and futurism being the main ingredients in his work, Matsunagais is always on the lookout for new techniques. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that he has done campaigns and editorials for the likes of Vogue Japan, Opening Ceremony, and Dazed.
“The nail art industry will continue to grow,” he says. “These days, there are so many artists that have so much originality and very unique styles and their own technique. I think this is proof that the industry is going to grow.”
Prepare to be amazed: