Yoshika Murakami is a Japanese emerging artist who was born and grew up on a tiny island in Japan. She first developped her passion for arts during her childhood and moved to New York in 1993 to study arts and design. After studying art foundations at art schools in NYC for a couple of years, she felt the urge to find her own expressions, left school, and pursued her own world first in fine arts, and then digital arts. Years of artistic expression made it clear that Yoshika's life would be centered upon her passion for art. She has received several awards and honors for her paintings for past years, and her works are collected internationally. Currently she lives in New Jersey with her cat Max.
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Group Shows
1996 National Academy of School of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition
2000 The Featured Exhibition "Celebration" Expectro.com
2001 The Featured Exhibition "Rendez-Vous" Expectro.com
2001 Artist 2001 Exhibition & Competition, by ArtCafe.net
2002 The Featured Exhibition "Art for Children" Espectro.com
2003 International Emerging Artists Annual Competition
"Translation-Dialogues On Life", Remote Gallery, NYC
2004 "Abstraction VII" Period Gallery, Lincoln, NE
2005 The Featured Exhibition "Blue" Espectro.com
One Person Show2001 Artist of the Month Exhibition "Who Am I?" Espectro.com
2003 Exhibition "The Journey" Ward-Nasse Gallery, NY NY
2004 "Holidays Are Fun" The Schacknow Museum of Fine Arts,
Plantation, FL
Awards & Honors:
1997 Award of Merit Manhattan Art Int'l 6th Annual Competition, NY NY
1997 First Place, Age 20-29 Division Art by Artist Art Contest, Tampe, AZ
1998 Award of Merit Manhattan Art Int'l 7th Annual Competition, NY NY
2001 Second Place The Second AGO Art Contest
2001 First Place--Abstract Category Artist 2001 Exhibition & Competition ArtCafe.net
2003 Second Place Birthday Card Contest Artwanted.comPublications:
1999 Direct Art Buyer Magazine vol.1 by Art Productions NY NY
2002 Artfolio, by Art Network, Nevada City, CA
Educations
1993-1995 NYIT Major in Design Graphic
1996 National Academy of School of Fine Arts & Design
1996 School of Visual Arts Major in Illustration
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Artist Statement
''My Art is the playground of my soul. Please come join me and play!''
I am a Japanese emerging artist who appreciates all kinds of creative expressions. I consider myself as self-taught artist at most parts, because I feel that after leaving art college, I pursued my own way of expressing myself first in fine art forms by experimenting many styles and then now am also exploring in digital art. As I have discovered myself in my art, I do feel like I am growing with my art as well. As a result, in fine arts, I have found my own unique technique of creating textured ''Relief'' painting using 3D modeling material often mixed with impasto painting technique. I basically love working with something that is beyond my logical control. This particular 3D modeling material allows me to create both abstract and realistic shapes often in unexpected ways, and I absolutely love its rough and natural looking surface created by it. I truly enjoy getting my hands dirty and being in this process, watching the unexpected shapes being unfolded in my hands. My basic concept of my art making is probably the mixture of old and new, East and West. Although my recent style are often modern and contemporary, I love mixing traditional realistic shapes with abstract shapes in one artwork. As spirituality also takes a important role in my life, you might find that many of my works are reflecting my personal lessons and are spiritually inspired as well.
Euphorian Chic "Finding small happiness in everyday life"... The idea of Euphorian Chic came from my childhood memory that I picked my first 4 leaf-clover of which one leaf was smaller than the rest of 3. I remember it made me so happy that day even though it wasn't a perfect 4 leaf clover. So the EC logo with a little heart in 4 leaf clover came from the memory as well. It carries the message of "Finding & appreciating small, smiple things in our daily life" which always seems to be a shortcut to finding "happiness" in ourselves. Also, being born as a girl, "Living Chic" "Feeling Chic" is also important to me. So, I just thought it would be nice to combine these two concept together in one name, "Euphorian Chic". Then it eventually has become my art business name/ brand/ art alias.
I am hoping I could express the essense of Euphorian Chic through my creativity which always gives me happiness, a sense of "euphoria" & and share that with others.
Love, Yoshika
