Mariko is an artist and scenic designer based in Southern California and earned her M.F.A. in Scene Design from the University of California, Irvine. Her work centers on creating environments that blur the boundary between visual art 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.