People sometimes ask me why I work with paper.
Not paint. Not clay. Not metal.
Paper.
The short answer? Because paper surprises me every single time. The longer answer is a little messier, and a lot more personal.

Paper Looks Simple (But It Isn’t)

Paper is often dismissed as fragile or temporary. Something you write on, crumple up, or recycle. But when you fold it, really work with it, paper reveals strength, memory, and resistance. It creases. It pushes back. It remembers every decision you make.

Once a fold exists, it can’t be undone without leaving a trace. I love that. Every piece carries its history right on its surface. That honesty is part of why paper feels alive to me.

Origami Is Transformation You Can See

Origami starts flat. Completely unassuming. Through folding alone, no cutting, no shortcuts, a flat sheet becomes something dimensional, expressive, and full of movement. That transformation is what hooked me.

Working with paper lets me explore:

• -Change and impermanence


• -Patience and repetition


• -The balance between control and surrender

Paper doesn’t always do what I expect. Sometimes it resists. Sometimes it leads. The conversation between my hands and the material is half the artwork.

Why Paper Works for My Origami Art

Paper allows me to move fluidly between different scales and forms.

One day it becomes:

• -Wearable origami jewelry


• -Small sculptural animals


• -Large-scale origami installations

It’s lightweight but visually powerful. Delicate but structured. Simple but endlessly complex. I mostly work with chiyogami paper and hanji paper, both of which have texture, fiber, and personality of their own. The patterns and surfaces become part of the story, not just decoration. No two pieces ever feel exactly the same, and I like it that way.

Paper Carries Meaning

Paper has been used for centuries to record stories, rituals, wishes, and memories informing my origami art. When I fold it into animals or symbolic forms, it feels like those histories are quietly folded in too.

Paper becomes a vessel:

• -For symbolism


• -For movement


• -For emotion

Whether it’s an origami crane, frog, horse, or koi fish, the material itself contributes to the meaning.

Why I Keep Coming Back to It

I’ve experimented with other materials. I love to draw and paint, but folding paper always pulls me back. It’s humble. It’s accessible. It’s unforgiving in the best way.

Paper doesn’t pretend to be permanent, and that impermanence makes each piece feel more intentional. You’re aware of its care, its presence, its fragility. That awareness changes how people interact with the work, especially when it becomes wearable art.

Paper, Folded With Intention

For me, paper isn’t just a medium. It’s a collaborator. Every fold is a decision. Every crease is a commitment. And every finished piece carries the quiet record of how it came to be.

That’s why paper is my medium, and why I don’t see myself leaving it anytime soon ✨

Learn more about me and how I got started on my About the Artist page, or follow along on Instagram for new work, process, and upcoming art shows.