Where to Start with Ekaterina Lukasheva
Ekaterina Lukasheva is a mathematician turned origami artist whose work sits at the intersection of geometry and beauty. Born in Moscow, she studied mathematics and cybernetics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, graduating with honors and later completing a PhD. She first encountered origami at the age of fourteen, when a mathematics professor brought a book on kusudamas to class. That moment planted a seed that would grow into an extraordinary creative career. Through her website kusudama.me, she built a global following and has been a guest of honor at origami conventions around the world. Her five published books explore modular origami from accessible introductions to groundbreaking work in curved folding, a technique that produces three-dimensional forms unlike anything in traditional origami.
Start here
Kusudama Origami
Ekaterina Lukasheva · 112 pages · 2014 · Moderate
Themes: modular origami, kusudama, geometric design, paper folding, decorative crafts
The best introduction to Ekaterina Lukasheva’s world of modular origami. Published by Dover, this collection presents over 40 elaborate kusudama designs that range from simple stars and flowers to intricate spherical forms. Clear diagrams and color photographs guide you through each model.
Why Start Here
Lukasheva’s later books assume familiarity with modular origami techniques. This first book is where she lays the foundation. Kusudamas, which translates to “medicine balls,” are traditional Japanese paper spheres made by combining multiple folded units into a single three-dimensional structure. The book teaches you how individual modules lock together through tabs and slots rather than glue, which is the hallmark of modern modular origami.
The progression is well planned. Early models use simple units that come together quickly, building your confidence with the assembly process before introducing more complex folds. By the time you reach the final projects, you will have internalized the logic of modular construction.
What to Expect
A 112-page guide with over 40 projects. You will need square paper in multiple colors, since kusudama designs often use contrasting colors to highlight their geometric structure. Each model requires folding several identical units and then assembling them, so patience and precision matter more than raw folding skill. The results are striking decorative objects that make excellent gifts.