Emily Tanaka
Muralist • Painter • South Bay Artist
Public art
Large-scale public art has been the heart of this practice for years. From school hallways to commercial buildings and city spaces, each mural is designed to belong exactly where it lives, rooted in the community, built to last, and made to be felt by everyone who passes by.
Every wall tells a story.
Fine Art
My studio work begins with an encounter. An animal crossing a path, a moment of stillness, an exchange of energy that leaves a mark. These experiences with animals, people, and the natural world are the starting point for paintings and mixed media pieces that explore the invisible frequencies connecting all living things.
Bold, vibrant color is the language. Layered texture and pattern are how it speaks.
Featured Project
California SMASH, El Segundo CA A 24,000 square foot sports complex and social club — 9 indoor pickleball courts, VIP lounge, full restaurant and bar. Emily served as lead artist and designer from concept to completion, creating all exterior murals, interior and exterior signage, and vinyl wrap installations throughout the facility.
About
Emily Tanaka is a muralist, mixed media painter, and creative collaborator based in Redondo Beach, California. Working under the name Have to Create, a name that reflects her essential drive to make art, she moves fluidly between large-scale public murals, studio paintings, and collaborative design projects across the South Bay and beyond.
Her public murals transform schools, businesses, and civic spaces, bringing joy and a sense of belonging to the communities they serve. Her studio work explores the invisible frequencies connecting all living things, using bold color, layered texture, and the patterns found in nature to express what can be felt but not always seen.
