Yuki Sumner is a London-based writer, journalist, researcher, curator, consultant, specialising in art and architecture. Yuki's writing has appeared in publications including Monocle, The World of Interiors, Wallpaper*, Architectural Review, Financial Times and Nikkei Asia. Fluent in both English and Japanese, Yuki has a strong pulse on contemporary art scenes and architectural developments from around the world.
In 2023, Yuki founded an international platform The Future Rural Collective to promote and connect artists, artisans, architects, designers, activists and progressive business leaders working together to address and improve economic and environmental conditions in rural areas.
The same year, Yuki curated a group exhibition “Future is Rural” for London Design Biennale, which emerged from situated research in rural Japan. This project involved commissioning collaborative work between Japanese and UK designers, as well as a participatory drawing workshop at the National Coal Mining Museum in Yorkshire. The resulting processed-based drawings – created using crushed coal and ochre – were integrated into the London showcase.
Complementing her LDB exhibition, Yuki curated a transdisciplinary symposium at the Architectural Association, bringing together perspectives from China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Japan. The event, which reached a global audience via a live broadcast, focused on collective strategies for rural futures and established a foundation for ongoing international dialogue.
In the past, Yuki has consulted many creative studios and organisations with strategy, messaging, press relations, art direction and programming of events. She continues to write, curate and consult. Her international outlook, inclusive approach, as well as identification with Global Majority, bring to the table a unique perspective. Critical of set narratives and assumptions, her practice is rooted in a commitment to diverse perspectives and the careful management of complex cultural exchanges.
Yuki has a BA in Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara, a BA in Fine Art from Central St Martins and an MA in Architectural History from UCL Bartlett.
Find Yuki's latest news on Instagram or LinkedIn.