about the gallery
Thousand cranes Gallery origin story.
The name Thousand Cranes is rooted in a tradition that spans generations, cultures, and continents. In Japanese folklore, folding one thousand origami cranes is said to grant a wish, bring healing, or offer peace. It's a symbol of hope, intention, and the quiet power of persistence.
For gallery founder Becca Barron, this legend is more than a story - it's personal. When her beloved grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, Becca began folding cranes as a gesture of love and strength. One by one, each crane became a meditation, a memory, and a prayer. That original senbazuru - one thousand hand-folded cranes - became the foundation of an artistic journey that now spans over 30,000 cranes and counting.
Thousand Cranes Gallery was born from that legacy. It’s a place where art and intention meet - where the creative process is honored, stories are shared, and the community is invited to be part of something meaningful. The cranes still fly here, one by one, now joined by the voices and visions of other artists who fold their own truths into each piece they create.
Becca Barron
Founder & Origami Artist
Originally from East Texas, Becca Barron is the founder of Thousand Cranes Gallery and the artist behind its signature origami crane sculptures. Her work is deeply rooted in heritage, healing, and the quiet rituals of connection. Inspired by her Japanese grandmother—who still hand-cuts origami squares for her from recycled magazine pages—Becca folds cranes as both meditation and message. She stopped counting after 20,000.
Each sculpture carries a story. Built from pages once destined for the trash, every crane holds memory, intention, and often a hidden word or wish. The cranes are arranged in intricate patterns on painted canvases, layered with color symbolism and personal meaning.
Becca’s great-grandmother was named Tsuru—Japanese for “crane”—a detail she didn’t discover until years into her practice. That breadcrumb, like so many others, affirmed that she was on the right path. Through Thousand Cranes, she now offers a space where artists, collectors, and community members can share their own stories, and where beauty unfolds one fold at a time.