Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) is proud to announce its next major exhibition by Japanese artist aica, titled Where Petals Dance, set to debut October 11^th in Gallery 2.

aica’s work reflects a purity and serenity in stark contrast to the fast-paced urban landscape of Manhattan, where she’s based. Her fantastical creations perfectly capture a magical inner place of creativity and whimsy. Her latest series, Where Petals Dance, invites viewers into a quiet realm of imagination—where the unseen becomes gently visible.

Regarding her new works, aica shares, “We are all born with a gentle magic—imagination. It comforts us, connects us to those we miss, and gives us courage. Even when the heart feels broken, we can walk forward in the melody of hope. Every spring, cherry blossoms dance, reminding us that beauty returns. We see them not just with our eyes, but with our hearts. In my paintings, petals often appear, sometimes gently scattered, sometimes swirling in a flurry. Though they may not physically exist, I feel them. I tune into their rhythm, as if each petal has a soul. This reflects a Japanese sensibility: the belief that even lifeless things hold spirit. It’s a quiet way of seeing what naturally flows through my work. Living in New York, I feel my Japanese identity more deeply. The distance makes me cherish Japan’s quiet beauty, its seasons, and its spirit. This show is about imagination—the quiet magic of sensing what cannot be seen. I hope my paintings awaken something in you—a memory, a comfort, a sense of presence. May your own fairies of imagination flutter gently through this world I've painted for you. May you see the unseen.”

Sharing the inspiration for her new piece “Samurai Helmets Are for Bunnies Now” (seen above), aica says, “Samurai helmets were once made for war, but now people talk about them as art. During a brief return to Japan in October 2023, I visited a special exhibition of kawari kabuto—extraordinary samurai helmets—at Osaka Castle. When peace arrived, samurai laid down their weapons and began expressing themselves through design. The helmets became too ornate, too heavy, too beautiful to wear in battle. It felt as if they were quietly whispering: we’ve always longed for art more than war. This painting was born from that moment. A schoolgirl wears a fantastical helmet—not to fight, but to carry the weight of history and remind us that beauty is what we choose to protect. This work is part of a growing series featuring bunny, bird, and butterfly helmets—reimagining girls as artists who wear symbols of peace transformed into art.”

Open to the public and free to attend, Where Petals Dance is set to debut on Saturday, October 11^th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in Gallery 2, alongside a dual solo show by world-renowned Nigerian hyper-realist artists Arinze Stanley and Oscar Ukonu, titled The Weight of Us the Main Gallery and a solo show by Latvia-born artist Jana Brike, titled, When I Was a River in Gallery 3. 

All shows will be on view at CHG through November 15^th.

About aica:

aica (pronounced Eye-Kah, stylized as aica) paints the invisible things felt only by the heart. Born and raised in Japan, and currently based in New York City, she creates fantastical canvases that reflect a magical inner world of creativity and quiet whimsy. Her work draws inspiration from Japanese anime, manga, and traditional ukiyo-e, incorporating their distinct styles to invite closeness and emotional resonance. In aica’s world, everything has a soul. Her practice carries a unique cultural sentiment—the sense that spirit resides even within inanimate objects. This quiet purity offers a space of serenity and reflection, gently contrasting with Manhattan’s fast-paced urban landscape. Her paintings express empathy for what cannot be seen but deeply felt: emotions, memories, and the presence of those we miss. She hopes her art inspires others to begin loving someone or something around them. 

aica has exhibited her work in galleries across the United States (including in Los Angeles and New York), as well as in Japan and South Korea, and she has received several awards (including the High Art Contest hosted by Juxtapoz).