Dru Blumensheid (aka BUMESI) is an American-Australian artist, fashion designer, and filmmaker whose work bridges contradictions—decadence and punk, east and west, illusion and reality. Raised in Dayton, Ohio, she was inspired by the 90s grunge and industrial music scene and shaped by a diverse cultural upbringing, including classical ballet training and a deep influence from her Japanese nanny. After earning a BFA in Photography from the Savannah College of Art & Design, Blumensheid moved from Melbourne to NYC, San Francisco, and Berlin, using photography, video, cinema, fashion design, sculpture, and her world-travelled personal experiences as her mediums.

Her work explores the tension between system overload and personal clarity, creating space to break free from societal expectations and the hypnotic pull of mediated culture. A millennial immigrant and self-identified outsider, Blumensheid’s creative process blends zen principles, hypnotic alchemy, and a deep sense of displacement. Her art captures light in dark moments, offering a soul’s reminder of time, secrets, and the pursuit of authentic experience.

Her work extends beyond the gallery, having collaborated with major brands such as Issey Miyake in NYC, Google, Gap Inc., Audio-Technica, and Klein Epstein Parker in San Francisco, as well as Zalando in Berlin and Photography Studies College in Melbourne. Her influence on the fashion world perfectly complements her diverse creative practice, merging art, apparel and product design and technology in a way that resonates deeply with contemporary culture.

Blumensheid’s work has been featured at the Queens Museum, World Trade Center, Afropunk (Brooklyn), Paris Fashion Week, Silent Green (Berlin), and the Museum of Old and New Art (Tasmania). Her films have been selected for the Harlem Film Festival, ShowStudio (London), and the Mexico City Fashion Film Festival.