Meet Josh Sun | Multimedia Artist & Creative Technologist

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

Hi Josh, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I first started working in the advertising industry, I didn’t give much thought to work-life balance. It was an incredibly intense period—sometimes I worked up to 80 hours a week for several consecutive weeks. As an Art Director just starting out, I was thrilled by every opportunity to deliver my best work. I eagerly took on new projects, pitches, shoots, and production sessions. In the beginning, the late nights and unhealthy lifestyle felt exciting. That’s how I had always envisioned the life of a working professional.

But over time, this demanding lifestyle started to take a toll. The lack of sleep, constantly eating out or getting takeout, and the stress of always working—sometimes even using my weekends to perfect a pitch deck—were affecting both my physical and mental health. Eventually, I realized that the situation wasn’t sustainable, and I began to see the importance of work-life balance, something I had previously mocked as unnecessary. I tried to find ways to incorporate more balance into my routine, but by then I was already burned out. The lack of balance ultimately led me to leave my job in advertising.

After quitting, I took a year to rest, travel, and reconnect with family and friends. I focused on my health—exercising, cooking, and enjoying the simple moments in life. It was refreshing at first, but as a creative, I found that not having a creative outlet left me feeling unfulfilled. I realized that for artists, the need to create is fundamental.

This led to a significant shift in my life, and I applied to the master’s program at NYU Tisch to explore new creative technologies. As I experimented with different artistic approaches, I found my new path as a multimedia artist and creative technologist. This new path allowed me to blend work and life more seamlessly. Now, my experiences, thoughts, and feelings inform and guide my work, and my work, in turn, opens up new avenues and experiences in my life. I no longer see work and life as separate entities, instead, I make it the point that they complement and inspire each other.

Today, I pay much closer attention to maintaining a healthy balance. If I feel creatively drained, I take time to rest, knowing that the joy and peace I gain from that will fuel new inspiration. If I feel creatively stagnant, I seek out other artists and creators to learn from, injecting fresh energy into my own practice. In my view, work-life balance shouldn’t be a fixed ratio—50/50 or 40/60. It should be fluid, something you constantly adjust to allow work and life to enrich and elevate one another.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a queer Asian artist and first-generation immigrant, every part of my identity—my desire, love, anger, and anguish—demands visibility. My work amplifies connections to the queer and Asian communities, aiming to make their voices seen and celebrated. I work primarily with projection mapping, 3D printing, game engines, and interactive installations, using beautiful visuals to pull viewers into narratives that immortalize collective trauma. My art transforms pain into something powerful and lasting.

One of my projects, Misfortune Cookies, projects headlines of anti-Asian hate crimes onto fortune cookies, turning a stereotypical object into a platform for visibility and protest. I’ve also created a VR experience where users interact with the spirits of LGBTQ+ teens who took their own lives, giving voice to those who were silenced. I believe it’s my responsibility as an artist to amplify voices within marginalized communities that often go unheard. My work reflects the stories the world tends to overlook.

My journey hasn’t been easy. I started in advertising as an art director, but I found my creativity stifled by routine projects. Eventually, I quit, took time to reflect, and joined the ITP program at NYU Tisch, which opened new possibilities for me to address the issues I care about through art and technology. Throughout this journey, I realized how crucial it is to surround yourself with people who believe in your vision. Without that support, doubt creeps in, and many artists are discouraged. I’ve seen friends abandon their creative dreams because those around them couldn’t see their potential. But when you have people who truly understand your talent and see the person you’re becoming, they’ll support you through every restart and reinvention. They’ll recognize that you’re not running from something—you’re running toward the person you were always meant to be.

As an artist, I believe that “your trauma is your parade.” My art transforms individual and collective pain into powerful expressions. I stand at the intersection of being a gay man and an Asian immigrant, and for anyone who shares these identities, I aim to amplify their voices through my work. My art is about more than just representation—it’s about resilience, visibility, and the power of storytelling to create change.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Aside from my art and creative practice, I’m a huge theater nerd and an absolute foodie, so my best friend will probably end up in a food coma or exhausted from an intense theatergoing experience.

Day 1:
Let’s start on a Monday. After some much-needed rest to shake off the jet lag, we’ll head to Ruby’s Café for a late brunch, which is conveniently close to where I live. We’ll spend the afternoon browsing local vintage stores and strolling through the area, catching up on life and work. We’ll visit a few galleries in Chelsea, then relax at Rosetta Bakery near Lincoln Center for dinner, enjoying the evening views before calling it an early night in preparation for the days ahead.

Day 2:
Breakfast will be at Ess-a-Bagel, where a classic NYC bagel sandwich will help recharge for the day. Then, we’ll head to TKTS at 62nd Street to grab some discounted theater tickets. After waiting in line, we’ll grab lunch at Soothr for their delicious shrimp & egg curry. We’ll walk it off at Little Island, followed by a stroll through Times Square where I’ll point out all the theaters. For dinner, we’ll go fancy at 53 for some incredible Asian fusion, and then it’s Broadway time!

Day 3:
I’ll let my friend take it easy in the morning while I head to TKTS again—because it’s a two-show day, as promised. Lunch will be at Cho Dang Gol, a Korean restaurant known for its homestyle cooking. After our first show, we’ll relax in Central Park, chat over a light salad, and gear up for show #2 in the evening.

Day 4:
We’ll take things slow with brunch at Boucherie before heading to The Met and MoMA. There’s so much to see, so we’ll take our time exploring both museums. Later, we’ll enjoy dinner at Da Toscano—their duck ragu pappardelle is a must-try.

Day 5:
We’ll take a trip down memory lane, visiting the schools I’ve attended—starting with SVA and its various buildings, then heading to NYU’s Washington Square campus and the downtown Brooklyn campus. Lunch will be a dim sum feast at Golden Unicorn, followed by comforting udon noodles at Raku for dinner. Of course, we’ll catch a Broadway show in the evening.

Day 6:
This day will be all about my friend’s choices. I’m sure they’ll have some ideas in mind, so I’ll follow their lead and enjoy whatever they want to do—no judgment, just quality time together.

Day 7:
We’ll kick things off with my favorite ice cream at Morgenstern’s before catching a matinee at the Public Theater. I love that space, and they always produce thought-provoking shows about minority communities. To close out the trip, we’ll have an epic Japanese BBQ dinner at Yakiniku Toraji, and then cap off the night with a visit to the Empire State Building for stunning nighttime views—cliché, but unforgettable.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a special shoutout to my mentor, Jack Marriucci, from my days as an advertising student. Although I’ve moved away from advertising, the training I received as a young creative laid the foundation for the artist I am today. Jack was an award-winning Executive Creative Director at DDB, living through the golden age of advertising, but his most important role to me was as a professor at the School of Visual Arts. He saw potential in me before I even recognized it in myself and made a point to push me to explore creativity with confidence.

Jack was known for his tough feedback, but when I doubted myself or wavered on whether to pursue a creative career, he told me, “Kid, you have a good eye. Don’t waste that.” Coming from someone with his expertise, that was high praise and exactly the encouragement I needed. His words taught me the importance of believing in my own vision—something that’s been essential, whether I was an Art Director or now, a new media artist. His mentorship gave me the confidence to see beauty and life in my work and trust my creative direction.

Beyond his guidance, Jack also opened doors for me, securing my first advertising internship at Saatchi & Saatchi in New York, which launched my career. Even though I’ve since taken a different path, the confidence and unwavering artistic vision he instilled in me continue to shape the choices I make today. For that, I owe him my deepest gratitude.

Website: https://josh-sun.com

Instagram: @jojojojojosh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuan-josh-sun-86b686119?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app