Mariko Kusumoto

Bio

Mariko Kusumoto prevails upon fabric to construct forms of elegant simplicity and evocative imagery. Born and raised in Japan, and now living and working in Massachusetts, USA, Kusumoto earned her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Musashino Art College, Tokyo, and her MFA in Printmaking from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.

Fascinated by the potential of different fabrics, Kusumoto strives to bring out its inherent characteristics and beauty. Using a proprietary heat-setting technique, she gives the fabric a new identity through reshaping it into three-dimensional forms. Her designs are incorporated into jewelry and sculptural pieces, and in collaboration with renowned fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier (in 2019, her work appeared on the Gaultier catwalk at Paris Haute Couture), and with luxury brands such as Tiffany and Co., La Mer, and Elizabeth Arden.

Her work is included in the permanent collections of The Victoria and Albert Museum (London), The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), The Museum of Arts and Design (New York), Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Swiss National Museum (Zürich), and others.

Statement

My work reflects various observable phenomena that stimulate my mind and senses; they can be natural or man-made. I 'reorganize' them into a new presentation that can be described as surreal, amusing, graceful, or unexpected. A playful, happy atmosphere pervades my work.  I always like to leave some space for the viewer's imagination; I hope the viewer experiences discovery, surprise, and wonder through my work.

My metalwork incorporates found, representational imagery and is very involved and technically challenging. My recent fabric pieces have developed with much experimentation and demonstrate an evolution from the properties of metal to something completely opposite. During the experimental process, there is sometimes a breathtaking moment; I 'catch' those moments and develop ideas from that point. I like the softness, gentle texture, and atmospheric (e.g., translucent) quality of the fabrics I use. In all of my work, there is always the insistence on skill and craftsmanship.

CV