Meet Aiyana Kyoko | Creative & Founder of Tiger Blossom:

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aiyana Kyoko and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aiyana, why did you pursue a creative career?
Because art has always been the most honest language I know. And honesty is where I want to be.
From a young age, I could feel what wasn’t being said in a room, the tension, the longing, the unspoken truths and art seemed to give those feelings somewhere to go. pain and fear seemed to take up more space.
Over time, creativity stopped being just expression and became a form of care for myself & for others. My work now lives at the intersection of art, nature and healing, because I believe these 3 are essential to being fully human.
I chose this path because I want to live in a world where beauty and wholeness are not inaccessible, but ways of being and where we remember that making something by hand, tending to the earth, or listening deeply can be revolutionary acts.
Art has given me a way home to myself, and my work is about inspiring & creating spaces where others can find that home, too.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work lives at the intersection of art, nature, and healing ~ creating spaces where people can slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the beauty that’s already within and around them.
The practice is rooted in the Japanese art of Ikebana but expands into something more broader: as an approach to creativity and life. Each class or workshop is an invitation to create with what’s in front of you, to notice line, space, and rhythm, but also emotion, intuition, and story. In that sense, Tiger Blossom isn’t just about making floral arrangements; it’s about restoring relationship — with self, with nature, and with one’s unique creative voice.
What sets this work apart is its devotion to authenticity and presence. It’s not performance art, it’s relational art. Every branch, stem, and gesture becomes a mirror — revealing something about how we live, what we find meaningful, and how we connect. Through this, I’ve watched people reconnect with their inner knowing, their curiosity, and their sense of individuality.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. I started Tiger Blossom while rebuilding my life, carrying both hope and fear. There were moments when I didn’t know if I could keep going — financially, emotionally, or physically. But every time I chose truth and passion over fear, the next door opened. I learned that consistency isn’t just about staying busy; it’s about staying devoted to what feels honest, to beauty, and to be brave. To be honest, the thought process behind starting Tiger Blossom began with a simple question: What would make my 80-year-old self happy? That vision helped me find a deeper understanding of what happiness really meant for me , not success in the traditional sense, but a life that felt whole, creative, and aligned.
I’m most proud that Tiger Blossom has remained a living practice. It continues to grow organically — through workshops, classes, memberships, collaborations, and storytelling.
I never set out to create a brand in the traditional sense. I set out to create a practice, something people could return to when they felt disconnected from themselves, from their life or from place. Your authentic voice, your creativity and nature are always there for you.
I’ve learned that creativity is not a luxury; it’s a survival instinct. That beauty isn’t decoration, it’s medicine.
Tiger Blossom was built from the belief that art can heal the distance between who we are and who we’ve been taught to be. It’s a practice, a place where people can listen inwardly, reconnect with nature, and express what words can’t always hold.
I want the world to know that this work comes from a very human place, from rebuilding my life after loss, from lineage, wanting to model hope and courage for my children, and from a deep desire to make creativity & beauty a restorative life practice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many amazing places in Los Angeles County, it’s hard to choose, but these are a few that hold meaning for me.
We’d begin east at The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, an immersive and beautiful place to start.
Then we’d go for lunch at JOY in Highland Park, a Taiwanese-inspired neighborhood eatery that never misses. Afterward, we’d stop by NOON Projects in Chinatown, a gallery where craft, nature, and social practice come together, always inviting deep reflection and dialogue.
Midweek, we’d travel west to Gjusta Bakery in Venice for delicious food and sunlight, Tortoise General Store for a perfectly curated selection of Japanese craftsmanship, and Library of Technics in Mar Vista for art-meets-philosophy & design.
We’d wander through Merrihew’s Sunset Gardens in Santa Monica, and hopefully get a chance to join one of their beautiful community events. And close the week in Long Beach at 6th and Detroit, a perfect little vintage store where hospitality, community, and creativity are felt.
Somewhere in between, we’d spend an afternoon at Sunflower Farms Nursery in Gardena, a Japanese-American, family-owned sanctuary that’s been cultivating beauty, wisdom, and care since 1975. The Akiyama family has turned this land into a living classroom & community safe haven.
To end, we’d of course, sit by the coast, watching the light shift, have some tea & breathe it all in.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people and lineages woven into my work.
Tiger Blossom and everything I create are really the sum of the people, teachers, and places that have shown me what love looks like in action.
I want to dedicate this shoutout first to my grandmother Kyoko, who taught me beauty and home as presence; and to my grandmother Florence, who taught me mind as strength. Both live inside the spirit of what I do, the bridge between grace and grit.
To my children, who have been my greatest inspirations and teachers in love, intelligence, and starting over.
To my family, who live creativity and are the definition of “ride or die”.
To my Ikebana teacher Yuko, who embodies kindness, the beautiful discipline of Japanese art and reminds me that mastery is devotion.
And to the people who continue to open their doors ~ the farms, studios, and creative friends who believe that slowness, honesty, and beauty still matter.

No one becomes themselves alone and Tiger Blossom is no exception.

Website: https://www.tigerblossomstudio.com

Instagram: @tigerblossomstudio

Youtube: @tigerblossomstudio

Image Credits
Lucy Taylor
Elly Taylor