My work is fueled by my never-ending curiosity for the natural world around us. As a child, I longed to be a biologist and would spend my days chasing butterflies and engrossed in science books. Drawing from my Japanese heritage, a core Shinto belief is that all things — plants, animals, beings, and landscapes — have “kami” or “spirits.” Indeed, there is life and magic everywhere and in everything when we choose to see it.

Assemblage provides a unique opportunity to transform and weave together everyday objects into meaningful masterpieces, resulting in something that feels both novel and familiar. It also provides the “blankest of blank canvases,” giving my imagination all the freedom and room to play. My hope with my art is that you feel the same comfort, joy, and calm these pieces bring me when creating and looking at them.

I credit my artistic perspective to my father, who imparted his love for Impressionism and appreciation for life’s beautiful, fleeting moments. I also extend my gratitude to my late mother, who treated my childhood doodles as if they were the finest works of art. While she didn’t tell me to become an artist (there are bills to pay, after all), she did encourage me to pursue what allowed me to be creative.