Moki Cherry (1943-2009) was a Swedish artist and designer who worked in tapestry, painting, music, clothing, collage, sculpture, and ceramics. Born Monica Karlsson in Norbotten, Sweden, her family roots spanned the far north and southern region of Skåne. She moved to Stockholm in 1962 to study fashion design and drawing, but life redirected her career towards a broader creative practice integrating painting, tapestry, costume, set design, and collaborations with her partner, jazz musician Don Cherry (1936-1995).

Moki’s work incorporated functional materials and traditional crafts, evident in her textile appliqué pieces, woodcarvings, paintings, furniture, and ceramics. She explored themes of ecology, environmental and spiritual awareness, caregiving and the home environment, seeing her art as a holistic way of life she described as “home as stage, stage as home.” Her interdisciplinary approach reached audiences through performances, workshops, schools, galleries, and her own home.

Moki met Don Cherry in 1963 in Stockholm during a tour with Sonny Rollins. Over 20 years, they lived between Sweden and New York, raising their children and collaborating on projects such as the Organic Music Theatre. In 1970 they bought a former schoolhouse in southern Sweden, which became a base for their semi-nomadic lifestyle. This space was central to their artistic and family life and acted as a creative and educational hub for musicians, artists, friends and children. Moki exhibited her work for over four decades, dividing her time between Sweden and New York until her death in 2009.

Moki Cherry was born in 1943 and died in 2009.