PAPERCOSM
NEW WORKS BY ASAKI ODA

July 11-August 30, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 11th 6-9pm

Join us for the opening reception of Asaki Oda’s PAPERCOSM.  The Art Shop will also be stocked with new art, our coin operated Arcade will be stocked, and the Admiral Dot miniature gallery will have a new show.

Asaki works primarily with gathered, reused, and recycled materials, including cardboard from shoe boxes and crumpled kraft paper from shipping packages. She finds joy in exploring the possibilities of transforming those materials into sculptural illustrations of life in natural habitats. Originally influenced by the woodblock prints of Imao Keinen, Asaki is drawn to simple compositions that capture the stillness and intimacy of nature. Like Keinen’s depictions of birds resting among blossoms, her work embraces restraint in both form and color, allowing texture and materiality to take prominence.

The kraft paper used to protect online orders becomes crinkled and worn in transit, developing surfaces reminiscent of wood grain.   Like wood, with the touch of a hand you can bring out its character. Cardboard packaging similarly has its own unique character, with graphics, dents, and folds that carry their own stories. Rather than conceal these traces, Asaki highlights them by manipulating the material with basic methods like folding and tearing which reveal the inherent beauty and character embedded within discarded materials. By keeping the monochromatic elements, she seeks texture and depth in layering the pieces. The unexpectedly natural beauty of the kraft paper expresses itself in the process. With these ordinary materials and simple techniques, Asaki hopes to grasp the joyous moments of nature’s quiet life.