Mariposa

Mariposa is an ongoing series of sculptural vessel forms created from recycled paper that is reconstituted, naturally dyed, and shaped by hand. The paper is broken down, reformed into pulp, and molded using processes similar to those traditionally associated with clay, allowing fragile material to be transformed into structures that hold presence and permanence.

Through layering, dyeing, and shaping, discarded paper is given new physical and visual life. Natural dyes and gathered materials create subtle variations in tone, texture, and density, allowing each form to develop its own surface history. The vessels emerge through accumulation—thin layers building strength through repetition—reflecting cycles of change, adaptation, and renewal.

The title Mariposa, meaning butterfly, refers to transformation as a continuous process. These works embody the passage from vulnerability to resilience, where fragile matter becomes structure, and what was once overlooked is reformed into something enduring. Each vessel exists as an individual form while remaining connected to a larger exploration of material, transformation, and the capacity for renewal.

2020 - Paper Vessel Series, ongoing