Some artists follow a singular path; Vita Kari carves their own. Their practice is quite the force in motion, an ever-evolving tapestry that seamlessly fuses performance, textiles, sculpture, and video with an instinctive, almost kinetic grace. They don’t just work across mediums, but rather they bend them, shaping concepts with a rare agility that feels both deeply personal and acutely of the moment. Vita’s work is an interplay between the digital and the tactile, where the immediacy of online culture converges with a reverence for craft, turning everything from their grandmother’s rugs to the ephemera of social media into high art.
Chances are, you’ve come across one of Vita’s viral TikToks, the ones that begin with their signature hook, “The craziest thing about…” before pulling us into a world of visual trickery. But beyond the illusions, Vita’s work is rooted in radical accessibility. Whether crafting conceptual videos that thrive within the algorithm or challenging traditional gallery spaces to be more inclusive, particularly for those with hearing loss—they're redefining how art is created, experienced, and understood.
And their vision stretches far beyond the gallery walls. Collaborating with brands like Loewe, Tory Burch, and Marc Jacobs, Vita merges augmented reality, interactive art, and social media-centric storytelling to forge deeper, more dynamic connections with audiences. Next on their radar? Diesel.
For Vita, art is a living conversation, one that unfolds across disciplines, communities, and digital landscapes, constantly evolving in response to the world around them. Below, we speak with Vita Kari on their art, how they intersect art with technology, and what's next for them.
1.Your practice exists across such a unique blend of mediums – visual and physical performance art, textile, sculptural work. How did you end up working across such diverse mediums?
When I think of a project, the first thing I think about is the concept. A lot of my projects require multiple moving pieces, or bring many ideas into focus. For me, the concept comes first, and the material application comes second. As artists, our job is to approach the world in real time and communicate it in visual context!
When I work across mediums, I’m just choosing the language that best aligns with what I’m trying to communicate. For example, textile makes sense to discuss the screen combined with personal heritage. I lean on performance, video or virality in other conversations.
2. You’ve described your practice as aiming to make fine art more accessible. How do you make that happen in your work?
Much of my video work is platform specific to social media sites! I create conceptual video works, allowing users to directly engage and comment on the absurdity of the digital experience, regardless if they have access to a gallery or not. The digital space is so unique due
to its ability to bring fine art to any user's screen.
I’m also interested in accessibility in the gallery space, particularly for those with hearing loss (as it’s personal to me). Accessibility can always be fine-tuned in public spaces, but hearing accessibility is something I think a lot about galleries due to so many video works. I miss out on the full experience of my limited hearing capabilities/deafness.
View this post on Instagram
3. Where do you see the intersection of art and technology heading in the next five years?
I hope to see AI being used ethically and having a small environmental footprint, leading into being seen as more of a tool (similar to the “fill” tool in Photoshop). I wouldn’t be surprised if the next big technology jump is 2-D to 3-D photos and videos. Immersive viewing experiences are becoming the norm, and that affects how we engage with art, both in and out of the gallery space. I also see an upward trend of tapestries and other old world, slow technologies being seen regularly in fine art spaces. The rise of new technologies so quickly makes us nostalgic for processes our grandparents were familiar with.
4. You’ve worked with some incredible brands and artists already, but is there one brand or person you’d love to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to do creative direction on a project or an immersive installation experience for a fashion brand like Diesel or Marc Jacobs.
Or to have a shoe collaboration with UGG! I would love to work with a jewellery brand like Alexis Bittar to make hearing aid
accessories/inspired jewellery.
@loewe The craziest thing about being creative … @Vita Kari #LOEWE ♬ original sound - LOEWE
5. A lot of your work is deeply personal – from your textile series reimagining your Grandmother’s rugs to pieces navigating your experience with hearing loss. How do you decide which personal narratives to translate into your art?
As life unfolds and evolves, my work does too. My work tends to parallel my lived experiences and respond to the world around me.
6. Who / what are some of your biggest artistic influences? Do you have any creative north stars, or references you find yourself returning to time and again?
Andrea Fraser, Cathie Opie, Thania Peterson, Mickalene Thomas, Isabelle Albuquerque— and so many other amazing artists inspire me every day!! Qualesha Wood and I almost did a show together, which was so special because I love her work. I hope it happens one day soon! One of my favourite painters of all time, Joaquin Stacey-Calle, and I are doing a duo show soon so that’s an incredibly exciting thing. I’m looking forward to it!
7. Looking ahead, how do you envision your work evolving over the next decade?
In the next decade, I see myself exploring the boundaries of unraveling. I’m interested in pieces that form a life of its own after its creation— which is why my work around virality captures me. They are works made for an accidental audience that become surprisingly collaborative—they lose the original plot, becoming replicated and up-cycled.
My series on “Virality as Form” is ongoing and doesn’t just stop at my craziest thing videos. My heart has always been in community, whether that’s online, off-line, here in LA where I’m from, through public artworks. I envision myself adding to the zeitgeist, but pushing my work (especially performances) beyond even my own expectations.
Image: 1,2, 3
Featured products are selected editorially. Our opinions are our own. Occasionally, we may receive a standard affiliate partner fee if you make a purchase using the links we feature.
