Ai Kijima(b.1970- Japan) is a renowned artist born in Tokyo in 1970, whose work revolves around the use of quilting and fabric. Her art lies at the intersection of labor and gender and challenges the traditional notions of women's work and opportunities available to them. Her work reflects her desire for a personalized and eclectic identity, and she skillfully blends traditional techniques with contemporary themes.

Kijima's chaotic collages are made by stitching together found materials into evocative cross-cultural patchworks. Her expertise in textiles developed over the last 30 years as she lived as an immigrant in the United States and as an expat in Istanbul, Turkey for over four years. Kijima is a master quilter and full-time professional artist, with a bachelor's and master's degree in Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States, Canada, Austria, Germany, Spain, China and South Korea.

Kijima's love for sewing and knotting was instilled in her from a young age by her grandmother. Her studio in New York is furnished with Ikea shelves filled with diverse and carefully folded textiles, waiting to be joined in stringent stories. Her works incorporate bedding, vintage kimonos, t-shirts, drapes and kitchen towels, which she purchases at flea markets or second-hand stores. Despite criticism that her works are too domestic, Kijima understands the deep value of handcrafting and homemaking and sees it as a way to craft her own identity.