About
Drawing inspiration from nature and personal experiences, my multidisciplinary practice centers on experimentation with everyday materials—ranging from inner tubes and soccer balls to canvas, paint, and found objects—to explore texture, pattern, color, and the rhythm of repetitive mark-making.
Drawing inspiration from nature and personal experiences, my multidisciplinary practice centers on experimentation with everyday materials—ranging from inner tubes and soccer balls to canvas, paint, and found objects—to explore texture, pattern, color, and the rhythm of repetitive mark-making.
My work spans painting, fiber sculpture, felting, printmaking, and mixed media. Often incorporating traditional textile techniques such as knitting or sewing in unconventional ways, I layer processes to build organic textures and dimensional forms. This intuitive, iterative approach allows my work to evolve through experimentation, transformation, and play.
At the heart of my practice is a celebration of the beauty hidden in the ordinary. Discarded materials gain new life as abstract forms that speak to cycles of change, resilience, and renewal. Circles and repeated patterns reflect the growth and natural rhythms of life. By presenting familiar objects in unfamiliar ways, I invite viewers into a space of ambiguity, encouraging them to pause, look closely, and consider what lies beneath the surface.
BIO
Monika Mayer is a multidisciplinary artist based in Berkeley, California. Born in Germany, she immigrated to the U.S. in 2002 with her family. With a background as both an educator and museum professional, she has long supported others at the intersection of creativity and hands-on learning. Largely self-taught, she began developing a daily art practice during the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing her to deepen her focus and commitment to her own art practice. She holds a B.A. in Social Education from the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany and a M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
Monika Mayer is a multidisciplinary artist based in Berkeley, California. Born in Germany, she immigrated to the U.S. in 2002 with her family. With a background as both an educator and museum professional, she has long supported others at the intersection of creativity and hands-on learning. Largely self-taught, she began developing a daily art practice during the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing her to deepen her focus and commitment to her own art practice. She holds a B.A. in Social Education from the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany and a M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
Monika is a member of Mercury 20, an artist-run gallery in Oakland, and an alumna of the Kala Artist-in-Residency program in Berkeley. Her work is included in private collections in the U.S. and Germany and has been exhibited nationally at venues such as Tryst International Art Fair (LA), Tiburon Library Gallery, College of Marin (Kentfield), Kala Art Gallery (Berkeley) and Mercury 20 Gallery (Oakland).
