ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Akiko Wakefield is a Japanese origami artist and instructor. She lives in Bath, England, with her husband and twin boys. She started to fold origami for her boys’ school fair in 2013, and discovered an instant passion for this traditional art form.

She loves origami and enjoys introducing and sharing the simple pleasures of it with her students. She practises the discipline every day, and through her daily practise has become aware of how origami can benefit both adults and children in many different ways: developing fine motor skills, improving concentration, encouraging patience, increasing spatial awareness, expanding creativity, and nurturing self-esteem. All beginning with a square piece of paper!

She holds seasonal workshops at Bath’s Museum of East Asian Art, as well as workshops for both private and public events, and recently, she started to teach origami in primary schools. Through sharing her experience of origami with others, she hopes to make a positive impact on their lives!