Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuri Tozuka.
Yuri, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Nagoya, Japan. Since I was little, my favorite books were always encyclopedia of living things, and I also would get so excited with all the creatures I would see in movies. After high school, I attended school to learn special effects makeup in Tokyo, which led to opportunities to work for some independent movies. It’s around this time that I was first introduced to the work of Jan Svankmajer, a Czech filmmaker and artist. When I first watched his stop-motion animation film, my heart was instantly pounding.
I just couldn’t stop thinking about the feelings I got from his work. This really made me realize that my passion to create went beyond expression through technical skill; I wanted my work to be more physically tangible as well as relatable to others. I decided to move to Boston to attend the BFA program at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in search of my new carrier path. It is during my time here that I found my love for metalsmithing and jewelry.
After graduating, I had the great opportunities of working as a studio assistant for a studio jeweler/metalsmith, Donna Veverka, and as a gallery assistant for Mobilia gallery in Cambridge. Working for them over the years has really helped to educated me about the contemporary art and jewelry worlds, and have guided me to where I want to be as an artist. I have been mainly focusing on creating one of a kind work, exhibiting at Mobilia gallery and other galleries throughout U.S. Recently, I finally gave myself more time to focus more of my time on my artwork and to try new things. Having new avenues to sell my pieces and experimenting with lots of new creations is on the top of my to-do list, so please stay tuned!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make jewelry and sculpture in metal, mainly in sterling silver. I have always been attracted to the intricacies of anatomy that animate living things while also being inspired by surreal elements. What I am creating may actually be a result of simply being true to my desire, and hoping to share with others my inner experience. I always want to create works that self-generates a character, leaving you a sense of humor or some form of connection to the piece, and sometime with a bit of surprise. I try to do so by introducing some visual details or mechanism to the work, but also like to play with perceptions of elements. Presenting my subject matter in the platform as an adornment, also helps to spotlight or transform the meanings of the subject matter to something different in positive way, and that (I am hoping) will create personal connections between work and the wearer in way that traditional sculpture alone might not.
Depending on the projects and the designs, I try to see what I can do and what is the best way to create them. I love the lost wax casting technique when I am making something organic. My work is all hand carved, and with the technique, I can still practice my passion for sculpting. Creating works with mechanism (like the marionette necklaces) are always a bit more challenging, but I enjoy the process of figuring out how to take my concept to reality; there’s a joy each time of the discovery of a process that works after what sometimes feels like lots of failures get it perfect. My creative process has been often idea driven, but after finishing my last (for now) marionette necklaces that I am currently working on, I am looking forward to exploring challenging myself in new ways.
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Because of SNS, it has become much easier to share your work and sell online, but physical places like art galleries, shops and artist studios seem to be disappearing more from Boston because of the high rent. I think community has always been important in my work and success, as well as for artists in general. Online has become an easy way for people to share and gather and build communities in the face of the ever increasing prohibitive costs that traditional artist communities are increasingly facing. Being a part of a community is ever important, no matter how you find yourself a part of one.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work is on view and can be purchased at Mobilia gallery in Cambridge MA. Also, you can see and purchase my human and animal skull jewelry at my fellow studio jeweler shop, Monique Rancourt Artisan gallery in Waltham MA.
My website, www.yuritozuka.com showcases my work, though I will have new website with more recent updates and hopefully with an online store sometime soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yuritozuka.com
- Email: yt8zuka@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ym8star
Image Credit:
Dean Powell (artwork photo)
Joseph Cohen (personal photo)
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