In the Cases | Michio Kobayashi: Kizuna

Michio Kobayashi: Kizuna Contact Michio, find them on Instagram @tinyforest.studio, or visit their website at https://tinyforeststudio.com/ A joint reception with gallery artist Adrian Wright be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:30 PM - 3 PM Michio Kobayashi is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist located in St. Louis, MO. They began their artistic journey as a dancer until they sustained an injury that left them disabled. They then turned to textile arts as a means of self expression and have continued to learn more skills in varying mediums to form their practice today. They utilize elements of leatherwork, printmaking, watercolor, and fiber and textile arts to create unique handbound sketchbooks and journals, artist books, and textile pieces. Their work is largely influenced by their experiences as a disabled, trans, and queer person of the Japanese and Korean diasporas. Michio pulls inspiration for traditional Japanese folk art, symbolism, and seasonality to explore themes based around reclamation of identity, isolation, and connection.