About

BIOGRAPHY

Yuka Otani is a visual artist originally from Tokyo, Japan. She received an MFA in glass from Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA from Tama Art University. Her creative explorations focus on embracing unique characteristics of transparent materials, such as glass, hard candy, water, and light. She loves the elusiveness of the materials, and how they are poised for change. With a multi-disciplinary style of studio practice, she has been working in the crossover fields of fine art, design, and science. She has participated in a number of residency programs including Museum of Art and Design, The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, WheatonArts, Kio-a Thau Sugar Refinery Artist Village, and Akiyoshidai International Art Village.

EDUCATION

2008 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI Master of Fine Arts with honors
2000 Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan Bachelor of Fine Arts, Craft Design

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015 “yukaotani x Papabubble Collaborative Project2015” Papabubble, Tokyo, Japan
2014 “VITREOUS Oriental Design Gallery, Hiroshima, Japan
2014 "Wonder of Sugarglass" Akioshidai International Art Village, Mine, Japan
2012 "Study for Hojoki" Camel Project Space, Brooklyn, NY
2012 "Sweet Vessels@PAPABUBBLE" Papabubble, Tokyo, Japan
2011 "Edible Glass Window" Papabubble, New York, NY
2010 “Rock Garden Disco” Pepper’s Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2008 “Irrationally Exuberant” Gallery Catacomb Central Falls, RI
2004 “Out of Pod– Adventures of Broad Beans” Morita Bank, Fukui, Japan

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017 "Nakanojo Biennale 2017" Gunma, Japan
2017 "Fluidness" Pier2 Art Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2016 “BEST IF USED BY” Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX
2016 “Emancipation” Soul Full Cup, Corning, NY
2016 “Whereabouts” GlazenHuis, Lommel, Belgium, curated by Hyperopia Projects
2015 “Alchemy: Sugarcane & Rum” Kio-A-Thau Sugar Refinery Artist Village, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2015 “Kojimachi Loves Arts” Kojimachi Collection, Tokyo, Japan
2015 “Nuit Blanche Akiyoshidai” Akiyoshidai International Art Village, Yamaguchi, Japan
2015 “COExist” Pop-up Exhibition on Market Street, Corning, NY
2014 "Art Festival" Akiyoshidai International Art Village, Mine, Japan
2014 "Quotidiaen" CelerySpace gallery, Berkeley, CA
2013 "Open Call for Art Project Ideas, Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
2013 "Modern Times" Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY
2012 "Watarase Art Project 2012 Parade" Nikko City and Midori City, Japan
2012 "Toothsome" Bulletspace, New York, NY
2011 "GLASS IN ALL SENSES" Brattleboro Museum of Contemporary Art, Brattlboro, VT
2010 “InLight 2010” 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA
2010 “Last Supper Festival” 3rd Ward, Brooklyn, NY
2010 “TRANSITION: Artists of UrbanGlass” UrbanGlass, Brooklyn, NY
2010 “Hand+Made” Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Houston, TX
2010 "Full Disclosure" Tompkins Projects, Brooklyn, NY
2009 "Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Heart" The Lower East Side Dance Academy, New York, NY
2009 “Objective Affection” Boffo, New York, NY
2009 “BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass” OSU Urban Art Space, Columbus, OH
2008 “OVS No.7” CRG Gallery, New York, NY 2008

AWARDS/GRANTS

2016 Nominee, Irwin Borowsky International Prize in Glass Art
2013 Oriental Hotel Hiroshima Prize/Audience’s Prize Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
2009 Creative Capital/Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program
2005-2008 RISD Fellowship
2005-2008 RISD Graduate Assistantship
2007 RISD Friends of Glass Scholarship
2007 RISD-Pilchuck Glass School Partner Scholarship
2007 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Technical Assistantship
2005 Kanazu Forest of Creation Scholarship

SELECTED RESIDENCIES

2015 Kio-A-Thau Sugar Refinery Artist Village, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2015 Fellowship, Akiyoshidai International Art Village, Yamaguchi, Japan
2015 Open Studio Residency, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
2015 Artist in Residence at The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
2014 Pilchuck Glass School Emerging Artist in Residence Program Stanwood, WA
2013 Shiro Oni Art Residency Gunma, Japan
2011 CGCA Fellowship, Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, NJ
2011 Watarase Art Project Artist in Residence program, Nikko, Japan
2010-2011 Open Studio Residency Program, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
2010 Artist in Residence program, The Pajama Factory, Williamsport, PA
2008 Chashama North Artist in Residence Program, Chashama Inc, Pine Plains, NY

LECTURE

2015 Professional Development Lecture, Glass-no-Terakoya, Tokyo, Japan
2014 Artist Lecture, Cornish Collage of the Arts, Seattle, WA2011 Artist Lecture, WheatonArts, Millville, NJ
2009 Visiting Artist, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

COLLECTIONS

Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ

TEACHING

2016 “Sweet Pate de Verre” Hagi Museum, Yamaguchi, Japan
2014 “Sugarglass Workshop” Glass Studio MARu, Hayama, Japan
2014 "Wonder of Sugarglass workshop" Akioshidai International Art Village, Mine, Japan
2012 "Sugar Glass Workshop" Jogashima Maguro Mart, Nakano, Tokyo
2012 "Sugar Glass with Yuka Otani" Workshop Instructor, Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY
2011 "Studio Sundays" Workshop Instructor, Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY
2011 "Edible Glass Workshop/Trade School: Coincidence of Wants", Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
2011 "Edible Glass Workshop" Trade School, New York, NY
2008 Instructor for "Beginning Glass" Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2004 "Drawing Workshop" Fukuno Ichinosato Art Festival, Tonami, Japan

CURATORIAL

2016 “Emancipation” Soul Full Cup, Corning, NY
2015 “Nuit Blanche Akiyoshidai” Akiyoshidai International Art Village, Yamaguchi, Japan
2010 "The Post-Glass Video Festival" Heller Gallery, New York, NY
2009 "How Is This Glass?" Multiple pop-up galleries in downtown Corning, Corning, NY

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