Cosmic Cuddle by Miki Masuhara-Page
Where Wonder Lives
Miki Masuhara-Page builds worlds.
Her sculptures don’t just sit in space — they breathe, shimmer, invite touch, and quietly ask you to remember what it felt like to believe in magic. Based in Portland and rooted in her Native Hawaiian heritage, Miki creates playful, interactive creatures inspired by fantasy, nature, dreams, and deep storytelling traditions. Her work feels like discovering a secret world you weren’t sure still existed — until you stumbled into it.
Like all great art, it started with a sketch
The sketch moved into the digital realm
Then moved into 3D desgins
Then the sketch became a maquette, a scale model or rough draft of an unfinished sculpture or work
Born From the Islands, Built From Imagination
Raised in Hawaiʻi, Miki grew up surrounded by lush landscapes, ocean creatures, and stories passed down through generations. That connection — to land, spirit, ʻohana (family), and the unseen — continues to shape everything she makes. With limited resources, she learned early how to transform found objects and everyday materials into something extraordinary. That resourcefulness remains central to her practice today.
Metal, resin, glass, paint, and salvaged materials become lively beings full of personality and warmth. Cold, industrial elements soften into something joyful, curious, and alive — echoing Hawaii.
Art That Invites You In
Interaction is at the heart of Miki’s work. Her sculptures often invite participation — chalkboard surfaces to draw on, lighting that responds, kaleidoscopic views that shift with your movement. Viewers aren’t just observers; they become collaborators.
“My goal has always been to make people smile,” she says. “To spark a little wonder. To remind people that imagination is powerful — and magical.”
She wants people to feel something. Preferably like a kid who just discovered a hidden world.
Finding Home in Portland
When Miki moved to Portland in 2010, it felt like stepping into a new universe — one where weirdness was welcomed, curiosity was encouraged, and creativity wasn’t questioned.
“People here are weird and accepting. It felt totally okay to be myself.”
That openness gave her the freedom to experiment, to take creative risks, and to build increasingly ambitious work — including large-scale installations that come alive through light, movement,
Meet Cosmic Cuddle
Her newest work, Cosmic Cuddle, is her most ambitious piece yet — and the centerpiece of this year’s Festival.
Standing 7 feet tall and stretching 12 feet long, the illuminated cuttlefish-inspired sculpture shimmers with mosaic panels that scatter vibrant light. Metallic accents add elegance, while electric eyes shift with the environment.
Inspired by a real encounter Miki had while swimming in Hawaiʻi — later revealed to be a Hawaiian bobtail squid — the creature blends memory, myth, and imagination into something entirely new.
More than an artwork, Cosmic Cuddle is an invitation: to believe in ourselves, embrace joy, and see the world with gratitude and possibility.
Art as Aloha
For Miki, creating art — especially now — is an act of care.
“I feel a little weird making art when the world is on fire,” she admits. “But art is a universal language. It can touch people’s souls.”
Being part of a festival that centers art, community, and shared wonder feels meaningful — especially at this scale. It’s another milestone in a career that includes receiving a Burning Man Honorarium, making her the only artist from Oregon to do so.
“To me,” she says, “that meant I finally made it.”
And yet, her work still carries the same intention it always has: to share light, mischief, joy, and a sense of aloha — one magical creature at a time.
Where can you see it?
Visit Cosmic Cuddle starting Feb 6 at Salmon Street Spring! It’ll be there until March!
A community-powered event
Thanks to support from individuals like you- families, local businesses, art-lovers, community partners and sponsors, the Light Festival exists.
Contributions help:
- Present over 200 FREE light-based art installations and performances citywide
- Support emerging and established artists with stipends and production resources
- Activate public spaces, small businesses and vacant storefronts during winter
- Create inclusive, family-friendly experiences that welcome people of all ages
