My practice centers on creating ceramic sculptures that explore vulnerability, identity, and emotional nuance through the kawaii aesthetic. While kawaii is often associated with surface-level cuteness, I use it as a visual language to reveal rather than obscure complexity. Rooted in my background in Japanese and American cultural experiences, I engage with kawaii not just as a stylistic choice, but as a meaningful symbol of emotional resilience, softness, and contradiction.

I work primarily with clay because of its tactile intimacy and material memory. Clay records touch. Every pinch, pull, and press is a visible mark of process and presence. This physical engagement mirrors the themes of my work: emotional imprint, transformation, and the acceptance of imperfection. These sculptures often appear cheerful and whimsical at first glance, but are layered with subtle gestures and details that suggest tension, fragility, or introspection. The interplay between surface charm and deeper emotional content creates a space for duality where playfulness and seriousness can coexist.

My primary subjects are animal figures, which I see as universal and emotionally accessible. Unlike human forms, animals carry emotional weight without specific identity markers, making them approachable and open to projection. Their poses and interactions often carry a quiet tension, reflecting emotional states such as isolation, insecurity, longing, or growth. I also incorporate natural motifs like grass, blossoms, and gentle landscapes to evoke cycles of renewal and healing.

The kawaii aesthetic serves as both an entry point and a conceptual framework. I am interested in how softness, humor, and nostalgia can create openings for difficult conversations. Cuteness draws people in by offering familiarity and comfort. Within that space, I invite the viewer to engage more deeply and notice the subtle cues and layered meaning. The sculptures ask for time and reflection, much like a Zen garden or a video game environment where details unfold slowly.

My work is informed by artists such as Yoshitomo Nara, Greg Ito, Emily Yong Beck, and Yvette Mayorga. These artists also work at the intersection of aesthetic pleasure and conceptual rigor. Like them, I am drawn to creating symbolic and emotionally resonant spaces where visual delight is inseparable from narrative depth.

Ultimately, my intention is to use sculpture as a tool for reflection, both personal and collective. I want my work to live in the space between lightness and gravity, between comfort and tension. Through clay, I build forms that are soft but strong, imperfect but intentional, inviting viewers to engage with emotion, memory, and healing.