Mariko is an artist and scenic designer from Southern California. She grew up loving art, film, and going to museums, and was always intrigued by the idea of creating a world that acts as a backdrop to a story while also helping to tell it. She earned her M.F.A. in Scene Design from the University of California, Irvine.

Mariko’s work centers on creating environments that blur the boundary between visual art, design, and performance. Drawing from interests in painting, sculpture, textiles and materials, she approaches scenic design through a tactile lens, prioritizing texture, material, and detail. She strives to create spaces that feel tangible and alive, inviting audiences to believe in the physical world of the story.