Ayana Ishihara

Ayana Ishihara is a Japanese scenographer, costume designer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Oslo, Norway. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Scenography from the Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College (2019–2022). She also has a background in baton twirling, modern/contemporary dance, and classical ballet.

Ayana’s artistic practice explores how principles of universal design can be combined with sensory approaches to create more inclusive art experiences. Her work aims to engage not only sight but also touch, scent, sound, and other sensory dimensions—expanding how art can be perceived.

Her interest in inclusive art stems from her earlier experiences in Japan. Before studying scenography in Norway, Ayana trained to become a Japanese Sign Language interpreter and was an active member of Kyoyohin-net, a volunteer group in Tokyo that researches universal design in collaboration with both disabled and non-disabled members. Through experiences such as visiting museums with visually impaired members, she began asking: How can art be experienced without seeing? This question planted a seed that would later shape her sensory-focused artistic practice.

In collaborative projects, she values artistic dialogue as a way to discover how scenography and costume can meaningfully interact with the body, expression, and movement in response to each project’s unique needs.

In 2023, Ayana was awarded a diversity scholarship (diversestipend) from Arts Council Norway. She has also received project funding for her upcoming work, When I Close My Eyes and Ears, I Sense You Clearly, which focuses on inclusive, multi-sensory art experiences. The premiere will take place on 26 May 2026 in Fredrikstad, Norway.