Meet the Artist
Kyoko Niikuni
Fiber Arts - Decorative
Kyoko Niikuni is an independent artist in the Puget Sound area. She specializes in creations using traditional Japanese Washi paper. Paper has always been her passion. After traveling the world and meeting new friends abroad, she often created small Washi-Art to send as gifts and thank you cards to her hosts and friends. This is how her love of paper inspired her to become an artist. She wants to share with others her love of nature and the beauty of Washi paper. She never grows tired of working with the Chigiri-e method because she never knows exactly how the paper will respond to her manipulations. Each project has a unique feeling and she hopes the final owner will enjoy her images for years to come. She loves capturing the natural splendor around her using exquisite Washi paper.
In her art, Kyoko tries to express the unique movement and features of each subject. Using the delicate fibers of Washi paper allows her to work at a very detailed level. She makes the feathers, fur and features come to life by layering Washi one by one with careful brush strokes. The delicate petals of a flower appear soft and nuanced. There is a dimensional quality that her technique brings to the art that cannot be captured with paint. The final result is breathtaking.