Qipao by the Sea
Front length 23.5". Sleeve 25". Body Circumference 44".
2025
“Qipao by the Sea” is a quilted jacket that embodies my response to the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry through the use of no-waste patterning techniques and scrap fabric. I utilize slow and intentional crafting practices to create a wearable work of art that minimizes waste and embraces sustainability. Each quilting stitch and pressed seam is a step against waste and unsustainable cycles of over consumption. By incorporating traditional Chinese qipao closures handcrafted from custom navy cording that are folded into Chinese good luck knots and monkey fist knots, I connect my cultural heritage to my art and honor generations of artisans who value care and meticulous hard work. This jacket represents the intersectionality of sustainability and art, demonstrating the choices we make in how we create and wear our clothing can be acts of stewardship for the planet.
Striations
23" x 17" x 14"
2023
“Strations” is inspired by blue herons I often watch gliding effortlessly across the marshes of our local Portland ponds. The wing-like sculpture explores how immense strength can be built from seemingly fragile materials like balsa wood. The piece reflects how hollow bird bones are reinforced by internal geometry that allows them to withstand the forces of flight and defy gravity. When creating this piece, I encountered the engineering challenge of stabilizing a complex and large form that reaches outward with no main central support. I constructed the outer frame using 0.25-inch balsa wood strips and interlocked them at the top creating the winged, skeletal structure. I then laser cut the intricate triangles and reused the leftover negative shapes from the laser cutting process to attach the triangles to the outer structure, reducing material waste.
Bleached
15" x 22" x 7"
2023
“Bleached” is inspired by my childhood love of observing octopi at the Hatfield Marine Science Center and discovering them in the wild while snorkeling in Hawaii. The paper mask celebrates the beauty of Pacific coast marine life and draws attention to urgent threats facing our oceans, particularly the bleaching of coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures. The piece highlights the interdependence of vital species and demonstrates how octopi rely on coral for shelter and nutrients. The survival of both species depends on the health of these delicate ocean habitats and ecosystems. Through the sculptural mask made out of crumpled white paper and hot glue, I invite viewers to reflect on the fragile balance of marine life and the responsibility we share to protect these environments before their vibrant lives and transfixing colors are irreversibly damaged. The choice of paper as my medium pays homage to the importance of paper and the tradition of paper cutting in Chinese culture.
Otters Playing
9" x 12" x 1.5"
2025
“Otters Playing,” crafted from layered cardstock, celebrates sea otters frolicking in the surf off the coast of Carmel, California. I depict sea otters from an eagle's eye perspective. They are resting on their backs and diving through the surf hunting for their next sea urchin snack. Watercolor washes shift from bright tidal surface waters to darker ocean depths. I drew intricate starfish, anemones, mussels, and coral in ink. Hand cut bubbles create wave patterns, and I stacked each layer with 0.25-in foam adhesive to create a sense of depth. Sea otters are a keystone species holding the Northern California coastal ecosystem in balance by eating sea urchins that would otherwise decimate kelp forests. Kelp forests in turn serve as nurseries for marine life by protecting the coastline from erosion and absorbing excess carbon from the atmosphere. I wanted to capture the joy and playful nature of sea otters while calling attention to the urgent need to protect a vital, endangered species.
Undulation
12" x 18" x 18"
2023
“Undulation,” a self reflection form, is an exploration of my identity. The smaller circular bubbles made out of 1-inch strips of translucent polypropylene sheeting are housed within the outer form and connected by aluminum rivets and fishing line. They represent different facets of my personality like curiosity, quiet observation skills, resilience, and determination. The piece is also inspired by the fluidity of the ocean and the dancing movement of a moon jellyfish drifting beneath a dock in Sitka, Alaska. Moon jellyfish are carried by the currents and adapt to the movement of the sea. A preprofessional dancer, I see the same adaptability in myself in my ability to adjust to challenging situations like month-long dance injuries that caused me to withdraw from a performance. The sculpture is suspended at eye level and illuminated by an LED light, so it appears to float and transcend just like a moon jellyfish.
Against the Current
24" x 24"
2025
“Against the Current” honors the beauty and fragility of marine life along the Oregon Coast. Hand-drawn sardines, whale sharks, sea urchins, starfish, and kelp are screen printed on cotton fabric, telling the story of beloved ocean ecosystems. These forms invite us to reflect on existential threats to our coasts including overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. By transforming these motifs into a quilt, I craft a narrative of interconnectedness, just as marine life is woven into the fabric of Oregon and our planet. This quilt is a meditation on the loss of marine life and a call to fiercely protect what remains. I enjoy the mathematical challenge of sewing curves within square quilt blocks, as well as the improvisation of freemotion quilting that represents ocean waves and ripples. Like the salmon species of the Pacific Northwest that swim upstream to spawn, we all must fight the current to protect and preserve our treasured coastal resources.
SOS
17" x 13"
2025
“SOS,” a two color screen print, raises awareness about the escalating crisis of plastic pollution. The print features iconic Pacific Northwest marine life, including schools of sardines, playful sea otters, kelp, starfish, and dungeness crab. While beachcombing, I encounter discarded bottles, bags, torn pieces of fish netting, and other debris washing ashore. The contrast between the natural beauty of the Oregon Coast and this human caused pollution inspires this piece. In the hand-drawn print, sea otters form the letters “SOS” from plastic bottles and a tire, an urgent plea for help. I use round, graphic shapes for the fish and kelp in juxtaposition with fragmented human driven pollution spelling the “SOS.” Protecting endangered species like sea otters preserves the health of entire coastal ecosystems. This screen print demands changes in plastic consumption and is a reminder that our oceans cannot speak for themselves, so we must uplift our collective voice to defend them.
Moiré Bee
14" x 19"
2024
The “Moiré Bee” screen print is inspired by participation in the citizen science BumbleBee Atlas project and my growing awareness of the vital role pollinators play in Pacific Northwest ecosystems. Pollinators like bumblebees are endangered, yet they sustain the plants and food systems that we depend upon. Their population decline threatens local wildflowers and native plants that make up our Pacific Northwest ecosystems. Bumblebees are small creatures that are often feared because they can sting, but they possess extraordinary ecological power and beauty. I used the moiré line technique in Adobe Illustrator to capture the layered, fuzzy texture of a bumblebee’s body and wings. I then screen printed the digital illustration on rag paper in black acrylic ink, drawing attention to the bee’s natural elegance and vulnerability. This piece is a call to action to value the unseen importance of pollinators and to care for these small but essential creatures in our world.
Floral Dock
7" x 6" x 4"
2023
“Floral Dock,” a balsa wood phone stand, is inspired by coastal furniture aesthetics. Light-colored wood pieces with a driftwood-like finish creates a connection between a functional object and the Pacific Northwest Coast. I transform a utilitarian object (phone stand) into a calming meditation that mimics the patterns of driftwood and sandy beaches. Each semicircle piece is laser cut and assembled with wood glue to create the repeated curved form. The light balsa wood color, in contrast to the burnt edges left by the laser cutter, mimics the sun bleached and organic patterns of coastal flowers that spring up in the sand. The phone stand merges utility with beauty to introduce the calming rhythm of the coast into our busy modern lives.
Lone Cypress
12" x 9"
2025
I painted “Lone Cypress” from a photograph I took while overlooking Carmel Bay in Pebble Beach, California. Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s painting style, I incorporate flat, geometric patterns and the use of background abstraction. I wanted to capture the tension of the windswept tree clinging to the cliff constantly enduring salt spray and heavy rains. The tree symbolizes persistence against forces that seem insurmountable, a spirit of resilience that I aim to embody in my own life. I chose a vibrant orange underpainting to warm the composition. The orange peeks out beneath layers of gouache and is seen through the rocks on the cliff. Through this work I celebrate the dramatic rocky beauty of the Pacific Coastline. The Lone Cypress is a guiding reminder of the endurance of nature and the landscapes that have stood the test of time.
Hands Tied
20" x 16"
2024
“Hands Tied” is a hand-drawn repeat pattern, inspired by the iconic floral cotton fabrics designed by Liberty of London. The pattern utilizes a cool watercolor palette and challenges the environmental and social impacts of modern textile production. Concerned with the consequences of fast fashion, I highlight the invisible labor and ecological costs embedded in fabrics that are treated as disposable. The running string connecting all of the hands together demonstrates the effort required to create textiles, reminding viewers that every object carries the imprint of multiple hands and hours of work. The project was labor-intensive and mirrors the many hours it takes to process and produce textiles. The pattern is designed to print on fabric. The original pen sketch was simplified to create a more vivid and representational repeat pattern. Through this project, I create dialogue around choices and sustainability in the materials we use and explore themes of labor and exploitation.
Intertidal Blues
62" x 45"
2025
My quilt “Intertidal Blues” is inspired by traditional Chinese and Japanese woodblock prints and pays homage to the beauty and fragility of Pacific Coast marine life. Hand-drawn sardines, whale sharks, sea urchins, starfish, and kelp are screen printed on cotton fabric, telling the story of beloved ocean ecosystems. These forms invite us to reflect on existential threats to our coasts including overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. By transforming motifs into a quilt using repetitions of three, I craft a narrative of interconnectedness, just as marine life is integral to the fabric of our planet. Each quilt block represents how individual species and habitats are disrupted as a collective whole by environmental damage. I enjoy creating continuous patterns and combining my two favorite mediums, screen printing and fiber work, to create functional items. The quilt is a meditation on loss of local marine life and a call to protect remaining coastal resources.
