Landis Tanaka: Experimental Houdini Art at the Edge of Motion, Sound, and Nature

Landis Tanaka is a Seattle-based artist, creative director, and founder of Formnt Studio, whose work explores impermanence, organic motion, and photo-surrealism through experimental digital processes. Drawing inspiration from nature, emptiness, and sound, Landis approaches visual creation as an open-ended investigation, embracing unpredictability, failure, and discovery as essential parts of the creative process.

With a background that spans music, videography, finance, and technology, Landis brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to his work. His visuals often blur the boundaries between simulation, motion capture, and procedural systems, resulting in emotionally driven pieces that feel both technically refined and deeply human. From live concert visuals to abstract, atmospheric short films, his projects are shaped as much by intuition and rhythm as by code and constraints.

In this interview, Landis reflects on his unconventional career path, breaks down the creative and technical process behind standout projects like Steal Away and In the Rain, and shares how GridMarkets has become an integral part of his workflow, allowing him to focus on experimentation, iteration, and pushing ideas further without being limited by render time.

Read Landis's full story and explore his work: Interview