Natarie Sports

1986　Born in Tokyo 2010　B.A. in Oil Painting, Department of Painting, Musashino Art University Mai Ohara is an artist who creates paintings, sculptures, silkscreen prints, and embroidery, drawing inspiration from everyday scenery and botanical motifs. Her work functions like a collection of fragments from the landscapes she encounters daily, woven together to express what she considers "special." Regardless of the medium or technique, her pieces maintain a consistent and unique atmosphere that captivates viewers across genres. Based in Tokyo, she is actively involved in solo exhibitions as well as collaborations with department stores and apparel brands. Her profile has been rising across various fields, notably following her appearance in a documentary film last year. While exploring the city by bicycle or on foot, Ohara encounters plants in back alleys, under elevated tracks, and in vacant lots. These are not the lush greens of deep nature, but rather resilient life forms emerging from the gaps of man-made structures—plants growing wild without human intervention or those appearing on the verge of withering after long neglect. They are botanical lives striving to exist in the fleeting spaces between people's daily lives. With a style that is somewhat ambiguous yet simultaneously charming and punkish, Ohara’s work is filled with meticulous details: motifs that appear painted may actually be rendered in relief, while background patterns are often intricate embroidery. By blending diverse materials and techniques with a vibrant palette and a signature touch, she creates a mysterious and positive world that is truly compelling.