Poina Liwai,
Mixed Media Artist

My name is Poki, I’m native Hawaiian and have lived in portland for 6 years now!

I love the outdoors and all things whimsical and strange. My shadow boxes are scenes of little worlds full of ghosts and bunnies with wings and other magical things.

 

I grew up in a very rural environment, and often went around looking through dry lava fields and crunchy bushes for fun. After heavy rain a lot of things would wash down from the mountains and leave me a whole treasure trove to look through. Ive always appreciated the bones left behind from animals and I think they’re beautiful. Im very inspired by such things and use bones and teeth in my art. 

I started out making jewelry, but I’ve since found other avenues for what I want to make. I love having the freedom as an artist to make whatever I want and not worry about if I’m making the “right” thing.

Thanks for reading!