Yuri Kobayashi

Yuri Kobayashi is an accomplished furniture maker and sculptor based in Rockport, Maine. Originally from Japan, she earned a B.A. in architectural design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo and a woodworking certificate from Shinrin Takumi Juku in Takayama City. Yuri holds an M.F.A. in furniture design from San Diego State University, where Wendy Murayama mentored her. Her dedication to the craft is further showcased by over a decade of teaching experience at the renowned Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to her teaching endeavors, Yuri’s work has been featured in national exhibitions and magazines, earning her prestigious residencies, grants, and fellowships. Noteworthy among these are the Windgate Artist-in-Residencies at SUNY Purchase, the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and the Arizona State University Art Museum. Over the past decade, Yuri has been an instructor and is currently a lead studio fellow informally mentoring through the studio fellowship program at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine. Here, she continues to create captivating pieces that seamlessly blend traditional woodworking techniques with her innate sense of wonder and emotion. From abstract sculptures to functional furniture, Yuri’s work reflects a harmonious marriage of craftsmanship and artistic expression.