My mother was an abstract expressionist painter who taught us how “to see.” Not just to notice what was in front of us — but how to compose it as an image. We learned to squint through the car window, framing the pure shape of a shadow across a passing building. Her influence is undeniable; composition and color her legacy.

Even before living in France, I’ve always drawn inspiration from French style: that chic, imaginative and contemporary flair. I’m simultaneously exhilarated by the inherent Japanese sensibility for simplicity, pure form, precise proportions, and graceful script.

I am a collector of artisan handwork and crafts from around the world — earthen pottery, utilitarian baskets, and yards of handwoven textiles. These treasures remind me of the hands that made them. They are an endless source of inspiration that fills my life with meaning.