Yuri Tozuka

Yuri Tozuka’s Tiger, Tigeror (2018) features two striking silver tigers that feel ready to spring into motion. Made from sterling and fine silver with coral and urushi lacquer details, the paired figures are shown mid-stride with open mouths, as if caught in a roar. Multi-strand chains extend from their bodies and tails, connecting to flowing mesh ribbons that end in circular, textured discs. The piece turns the tiger into a kinetic wearable object that mixes sculpture, performance, and a sense of wild energy.

The physical construction of Tiger, Tigeror highlights Tozuka’s skill with hand fabrication and lost-wax casting. Each tiger is carefully carved in wax before casting, resulting in detailed forms with realistic striping, articulated limbs, and expressive features. The flexible mesh chains and ribbons allow the piece to move with the wearer, while coral accents and urushi lacquer add subtle color and a nod to traditional Japanese techniques. This combination creates a work that is both sturdy and delicate, functioning effectively as jewelry while maintaining strong sculptural presence.

Symbolically, the work reflects Tozuka’s interest in the connections between nature and human-made systems. Drawing from her love of creature encyclopedias and stop-motion animation, she reimagines the tiger as both a powerful natural force and a kind of marionette. The title playfully references William Blake’s “The Tyger,” while the puppet-like chains raise questions about control and freedom. The piece uses dark humor and surprise to explore how we interact with and project meaning onto the natural world.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, and based in Massachusetts after earning her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2009, Tozuka brings a distinctive perspective to themes of human and natural invention. Tiger, Tigeror is a strong example of her approach: technically accomplished, conceptually engaging, and designed to create a personal connection with the wearer. By turning these dynamic creatures into adornment, she makes the experience of wearing them feel interactive and thought-provoking.

Sources

Gravers Lane Gallery. (n.d.). Yuri Tozuka [Artist profile]. Retrieved July 1, 2026, from https://graverslanegallery.com/artists/jewelry/art-jewelry/tozuka-yuri/

Tozuka, Y. (n.d.). Yuri Tozuka [Artist website]. Retrieved July 1, 2026, from https://www.yuritozuka.com/

Mobilia Gallery. (n.d.). Yuri Tozuka [Artist profile]. Retrieved July 1, 2026, from https://www.mobilia-gallery.com/artists/yuri-tozuka/

Boston Voyager. (2018, September 3). Check out Yuri Tozuka’s artwork [Interview]. Retrieved July 1, 2026, from https://bostonvoyager.com/interview/check-yuri-tozukas-artwork/