Ariel DeAndrea explores the movement, life and spirituality in the design and symbolism of an otherwise lifeless object: the origami crane. Creating oil paintings that feature the paper birds in natural settings, bodies of water from around the world, she brings the origami crane to life in its animated travels on the surface of the water, riding along the current or the wave and flying. This draws focus on the life and beauty of a single crane, allowing the origami bird to become much more than a folded piece of paper.

The cranes’ communion with nature in these pieces speaks to both Japanese cultural practice, spirituality in Shinto and the unique reinterpretation of the artist to reflect her personal spirituality.

Current and Previous Works by Ariel DeAndrea