Yuki Murata

Catalog

Yuki Murata

Born: 1973, New York, NY

Biography and Information

Biography
The geometry and structure of my work are artifacts from my training as a product and architectural designer. I have been channeling this design history and experience into my painting practice by exploring lines, bands, and grids as well as using materials normally associated with building construction (soil) and housewares (clay slip). Rhythmic linear repetition and a subtle color palette are my meditation on the restoration and repair I search for in our splintered, suffering world. I habitually return to square formats to honor our human desire for stability and order. In my work, I am documenting time and location by using materials gathered from the properties around where I am working. Another ritual of my practice is to “walk” my canvas across the landscape; letting soil, plants, detritus, and topography mark the fabric. I log each piece with a GPS coordinate because I believe my work has terroir. The work is influenced by changes in soil, geology, terrain, climate, and time. In the studio, by overlaying structured geometries, I explore our relationship to the earth and question how we can evolve our impulse to dominate it. In some of my soil paintings I add 24K gold leaf like in the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi (golden joinery). As a philosophy, Kintsugi regards breakage and repair as a precious part of an object’s story instead of something to hide or disguise. My Japanese heritage deeply informs both my art practice and design work. The meditative walking practice that begins each piece centers process and place as a catalyst for reflection and creativity. By highlighting the tension between the environment and humanity I remind us to value the beauty of wild land.–Yuki Murata

Education
2002 MID Master of Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design – Providence, RI
1995 BA Bachelor of Arts – Architecture, Yale University – New Haven, CT

Solo/2 Person Exhibitions
2026
Core Samples, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
2024
The Actors La, Santa Fe, NM
Art Cinema Gallery, The Violet Crown, Santa Fe, NM

2019
Cerrillos Station Gallery, Cerrillos, NM

2006
Victoria Price Contemporary Art + Design, Santa Fe, NM

2005
Gallery Tokyo Eizo, Tokyo, Japan

2002
The Diesel, Somerville, MA

2000
Market House, Providence, RI

Group Exhibitions
2025
Vital Spaces – Santa Fe, NM

2023
REGALOS – Hecho Gallery – Santa Fe, NM

2021
Chiaroscuro – Santa Fe, NM

2020
ARTS THRIVE – Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Chiaroscuro – Santa Fe, NM

2019
ARTS THRIVE – Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM

UNBROKEN – The Webster Collection, Santa Fe, NM

2018
Offroad Productions, Santa Fe, NM