Ueda Tsuyoshi is a Toyama based bronze artist. His practice revolves around the idea of the true state of metals. Ueda sees the polished, refined state of metals as an imperfection. His craft aims to return the materials of his medium to return to their natural state.

”The surface of refined metal is in a very unstable state, and it is destined to constantly change toward rust. Rust on metal is in the same state as the minerals from which it was made; metals are always trying to rust, returning to their natural, mineral state.” 

The resulting form shows an incredible mastery of the visual form and materialistic quality.

Ueda received his M.F.A. from the Kanazawa College of Arts’ renowned Kogei (traditional crafts) program. He has since received his M.A. at Tokyo University of the Arts through their Kogei Program. He now lives in Toyama. He is a lecturer at his alma mater Kanazawa College of Arts in the crafts department. Ueda has received many awards for his works and has exhibited throughout Japan. His work is featured in the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) in the contemporary Japanese section.