Starting at the age of six, Robert Lang has been folding paper into intricate creations. Now, at 65, Lang is globally acknowledged as a master of origami, boasting over 800 designs. When asked about being an origami rock star, Lang noted, “Yeah, I guess I’ve been that long enough that I’ve gotten used to it.”
Origami has its roots in Japan, dating back over 300 years, but Lang played a pivotal role in the art’s revival in the 1990s. In 2007, he showcased some of his finest patterns on “Sunday Morning” from his California residence. Previously a physicist involved in laser designs for NASA, Lang transitioned to a full-time origami career, marrying math and art.
Lang remains enchanted by the magic of origami. “Absolutely,” he said, “creating something that seems impossible, then making it possible.” However, a dramatic shift occurred at the start of 2025 when the Eaton Fires devastated Altadena, California. The fires consumed the home Lang shared with his wife, Diane, along with his studio, eliminating hundreds of works that took countless hours to produce.
Lang reflected, saying, “I’ve lost all my bugs,” referring to the intricate insects and arthropods he folded with care. An origami cuckoo clock from 1987 was the only finished piece spared. Lang remarked, “Everything I had envisioned for the next stage of my life is going to be a completely different plan.” Among the losses were his famous origami koi, which had been displayed in 15 museums over five years. The koi had recently returned from a show in Denmark.
The koi were crafted from handmade paper by Richard Alexander and Michael LaFosse of Origamido Studios. Receiving such paper is akin to having a Stradivari violin. Upon learning of Lang’s loss, Alexander and LaFosse were quick to offer assistance, forming part of a supportive origami community.
Origamido contributed by producing new paper containing ash from Lang’s burnt studio, collected from where the koi exhibit had been stored. At his temporary residence in Altadena, Lang began folding new koi using this unique paper. “Vertical Pond III” debuted earlier this year at Descanso Gardens, near Altadena. Lang expressed joy at seeing the fish “swimming around” again and described the exhibit as a renewal of his studio’s spirit.
Lang’s origami koi are displayed at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego until November. Amidst the ruins, Lang and Diane are finding solace in the art and steadiness origami provides. Origami teaches patience, a virtue Lang embodies as he rebuilds one fold at a time. He remarked, “Origami keeps my mind going, and it tickles a lot of the pleasure centers. There’s just something really satisfying about solving a really hard problem, and that the solution results in something beautiful. I long to have that experience again.”
For more information: Visit Robert J. Lang Origami Exhibition titled “To Catch a Fish” at Mingei International Museum in San Diego, Origamido Studios in Haverhill, Mass., and Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.