Born and raised in Tokyo, lifelong artist Mariko Irie received her BFA at Musashino Art University in Tokyo. In 1982 Mariko moved to Mendocino to pursue her painting . She studied printmaking with Robert Rhodes and American Realism painting with Bill Martin at College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg. Iin November of 2009 she moved to San Diego to expand her world.

Mariko’s search for peace and eternal beauty finds expression in the silence of her paintings in which her images give the viewer room for contemplation.

For over twenty years Mariko has been fascinated by watercolor. She uses a wet into wet technique, working with the special properties of watercolor to enhance the medium’s unique charm. Layers of transparent glazes create very rich paintings which delight the viewer with their traditional style and wonderful contemporary feel.

Mariko Irie’s prize winning paintings & printmaking have been presented in many solo and group shows.  Her paintings were honored further by having been chosen for the cover of the Mendocino Art Center’s magazine “Mencodino Arts” winter issue in 2008, and chosen for the poster of the Mendocino Coastal Botanical Garden’s event “Art in the Garden” in 2008, the 2004 Mendocino Music Festival and Winesong 1995. Mariko’s paintings are widely represented in collections both public and private throughout the United States, Canada, England, Germany and Japan.

At present the paintings and Giclee prints of Mariko Irie can be seen at the Mendocino Art Center Gallery and The Highlight Gallery in the village of Mendocino and at the very charming Wine Tasting Room at Glendeven Inn, Little River, California. In addition, Mariko’s extensive body of work, both original watercolors, Oil paintings and Giclee prints, may be viewed on her website www.mariko-irie.com