Kyoko Imazu is a Melbourne based artist born in Japan whose dreamlike work encompasses a range of mediums including printmaking, papercut, puppetry, bookbinding, ceramics and installation. Inspired by the tiny creatures of our natural world, as well as characters from Japanese folklore, Kyoko tells whimsical stories of exploration and adventure. As she says, “I’m interested in paying attention to our tiny neighbours: the weeds, bugs and pebbles that fill our everyday lives. When you look closely, it’s incredible to realise how everything is so different – every petal, leaf and wing is miraculously unique. These beings and objects all have their own stories and universes within themselves, containing many states of life, death and regeneration.” The intriguing nature of her work draws the audience in, opening up new worlds and perspectives.
Kyoko graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2007. In the last decade she has been included in over 100 exhibitions throughout the Asia-Pacific region and the USA. Kyoko has undertaken numerous residencies and, in 2017, she was awarded a fellowship by the State Library Victoria to undertake a residency at Baldessin Press & Studio. In 2019, she was a finalist in the Geelong Acquisitive Print Awards, Megalo International Print Prize and the Fremantle Arts Centre Print Awards. Her works are held in several public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Library of Australia, State Library of Queensland and State Library of Victoria.
