Playful, translucent 3D jewellery made of fabric and inspired by sea creatures

Speaking of her work, Mariko said: "My work reflects various, observable phenomena that stimulate my mind and senses; they can be natural or man-made. I 'reorganise' them into a new presentation that can be described as surreal, amusing, graceful, or unexpected. A playful, happy atmosphere pervades my work. Many of my pieces come from accidental discoveries. During the experimentation process, a breathtaking moment often happens. I catch those moments and develop ideas from that point.

"I love the translucency of fabric. Working with layers and adding moving parts creates playful, mysterious and ethereal atmospheres. I feel endless unlimited possibilities in these materials."

Born and raised in Japan, Mariko now lives and works in Massachusetts. She received her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Musashino Art College in Tokyo, Japan, and her MFA in Printmaking from Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Kock Collection at the Swiss National Museum, the Racine Art Museum, and Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Florida.

Discover more at www.marikokusumoto.com. Or find her on Facebook.