In New Mythologies, Miki continues her exploration of the Shinto concept of the Tsukumogami yōkai—shape-shifters that take the form of commonplace objects and undefinable forms. By engaging with these ancient mythologies, Miki hopes to forge new collective narratives that express contemporary cultural values, echoing dichotomies of human identity and transformation. Miki’s characters embody the contrary characteristics of being both sacred and secular, animate and inanimate and reflect the nuances of nonbinary spaces across gender, biracial identities and her own experience as a Japanese immigrant woman living between two cultures.

In collaboration with Artworks Foundry in Berkeley, Miki has expanded the boundaries of bronze casting to produce mirror-smooth, seamless surfaces. Further departing from traditional bronze work, Miki has synthesized patina with modern paint to imbue the medium with a new life. Of working with bronze as a medium, Miki states, “Bronze sculptures have a beautiful presence with patina finish that offer curvilinear movement in my work. I have combined both patina and very subtle layers of paint to create flickering optical illusions of colors, which emphasize movement and highlight the shape of form. My sculptures have been shape-shifting in materials from paper to felted wool and now, in innovating on the appearance of bronze with new form and materials for a contemporary audience. These evolutions are a natural process because the essence of the shapeshifters is fluidity.”

Marcus Leslie Singleton (b. 1990, Seattle Washington) is a self-taught artist, living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Drawing from archival photographs, memories, and imagination, Singleton weaves together personal experience and broader historical narratives. Growing up in the predominantly white suburbs of Tacoma and Olympia, Singleton's work explores questions around the process of identity building and black consciousness. Recent solo exhibitions include Steve Turner, Los Angeles, CA, the Journal, Skavo, Turn Gallery, and Medium Tings in New York, NY. Singleton's work has been included in exhibitions at Frieze, Los Angeles and Office & Gallery, Los Angeles.


“The two works selected are memories based on quarantine here in Brooklyn, NY. Reduced to associating with close friends, or virtual meet ups on FaceTime or zoom, I am attempting to record recent history as to what this time felt like for many of us. And what I did personally. These paintings aren’t meant to be creative in the way of their standing but I’m offering insight into the feelings one would have experienced while faced with this challenge everyday.” - Marcus Leslie Singleton

In New Mythologies, Miki continues her exploration of the Shinto concept of the Tsukumogami yōkai—shape-shifters that take the form of commonplace objects and undefinable forms. By engaging with these ancient mythologies, Miki hopes to forge new collective narratives that express contemporary cultural values, echoing dichotomies of human identity and transformation. Miki’s characters embody the contrary characteristics of being both sacred and secular, animate and inanimate and reflect the nuances of nonbinary spaces across gender, biracial identities and her own experience as a Japanese immigrant woman living between two cultures.

In collaboration with Artworks Foundry in Berkeley, Miki has expanded the boundaries of bronze casting to produce mirror-smooth, seamless surfaces. Further departing from traditional bronze work, Miki has synthesized patina with modern paint to imbue the medium with a new life. Of working with bronze as a medium, Miki states, “Bronze sculptures have a beautiful presence with patina finish that offer curvilinear movement in my work. I have combined both patina and very subtle layers of paint to create flickering optical illusions of colors, which emphasize movement and highlight the shape of form. My sculptures have been shape-shifting in materials from paper to felted wool and now, in innovating on the appearance of bronze with new form and materials for a contemporary audience. These evolutions are a natural process because the essence of the shapeshifters is fluidity.”