Musubi is a Japanese term referring to the idea of unity. Here you will find high quality explorations of the human form coupled with the traditional Japanese aesthetics of my homeland.
Originally from Fukushima, Japan, I’m a professional painter and sculptor for the TV/film industry living in Los Angeles, where I’ve worked on a number of high profile productions.
My personal work focuses on creating clean, precise and hyper-realistic pieces with a distinctive, layered color palette. Each of my pieces is handcrafted with meticulous detail, and I tend to draw inspiration from the more mysterious side of Japan.
Japanese craftsmanship is widely regarded as supreme quality. The idea of shokunin roughly translates to gaining perfection in your craft, and is embedded within the culture. The true meaning goes much deeper, implying a deep sense of social obligation to do one’s best on behalf of the people.
Achieving shokunin is a demanding task. I know this firsthand; as a child my parents forced me to sculpt for hours. If even one imperfection was found, I had to sleep outside in the snow, with the pigs. Was so tough.
...Just kidding! I had a great childhood. Nevertheless, I hold my work to a very high degree, so rest assured you are getting something of great quality.
Purchasing from me ensures you will forever own an atypical slice of Japan, something that seeks to embody the meaning of shokunin while exploring the darker depths of the culture. I will take the utmost care in crafting your artwork and will endow it with the spirit of my ancient Japanese ancestors :)
Maiko Chiba