About Yuri

Yuri was born and raised in Nagoya, Japan and currently works and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Since she was little, her favorite books were always encyclopedias of living things, and she would be excited by all the fantastical creatures that she saw in movies. After high school, she attended school to learn special effects makeup in Tokyo. The encounter of stop-motion animation films from the Czech Republic made a huge impact on her, and made her realize that her passion to create went beyond expression through technical skill; she desired her work to be more physically tangible as well as relatable to others. She moved to Boston and found her love for metalsmithing and jewelry at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and completed her BFA in 2009.

She has focused her work to explore the invention and expression of both humans and nature ever since. She delves into these themes using both hand fabrication as well as hand carved lost wax casting techniques in precious metal. Her jewelry and sculpture have been exhibited in galleries and institutions throughout the United States.

About Work

My work is drawn from my imagination and observation of things. Whether forms of a container or pieces of jewelry, I try to create work which self-generates a character. What is real and what is not are the major keys for me to make decisions towards my work. My background being in the field of special effects make-up convinced me that putting my imagination into making objects of my own design is the only way to fulfill my desire. Investing in the truth of an object, the works I make are no longer fake, rather, they can stand on their own.

Surreal elements, such as dark humor, satire and illogical notion, also influence my work. Such ideas and imagery come out when they have something to encounter and reflect within actual life. I strive to visualize this interplay of two worlds within my work. For that reason, I carefully select representational forms as visual elements or inspiration, such as human anatomy, insects or ordinary objects. My work is often made with traditional metalsmithing materials and techniques. The preciousness and the durability of the metal simply fascinates me, and these advantages of working with metals seems to help remove the character of my work from a sense of the artificial.

As all living things consist of millions of minute different pieces, to give life to my work, I put care and details into my aesthetic. Together with these details, I try to bring surprise and absurdity to conjure a bit of excitement. I create objects which are not just sculptures, but also pieces of jewelry.

Stock List

Mobilia Gallery

348 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

www.mobilia-gallery.com

The Silver Fern

145 E Spring Street suit B-1,Cookeville, Tennessee

www.thesilverfernshop.com

Monique Rancourt Jewelry and Artisan Gallery

289 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

www.moniquerancourt.com