Yuli Yamagata was born in São Paulo in 1989, where she continues to live and work. The artist graduated from the University of São Paulo with a BFA in sculpture, and has exhibited nationally and internationally since 2015. Through her Japanese heritage, she has become interested indifferent aspects of the culture, including shibori, a manual tie-dyeing technique, and manga.
In the words of Andrea K. Scott, writing for The New Yorker in 2021, Yamagata is "wildly imaginative [ ... ] fascinated by the macabre-from vampires to manga-and by the tension between revulsion and beauty." To create her wall works and sculptures, she works primarily with fabric, sewing together different textiles, such as silk and velvet, often selecting patterned pieces. She stretches the fabric over canvases or builds up free-standing objects. Working with resin and paint, Yamagata glues an eclectic range of found objects-from garlic to chopsticks and corncobs to the surface of her pieces. Her fascination with sportswear has led to the incorporation of sneakers and an abundant use of Lycra. In an interview with Rory Mitchell for Ocula in 2021, Yamagata explains: "I start every sculpture by choosing a kind of 'challenge,' usually informed by the physicality of the material itself or by a chosen narrative."
Yamagata's interest in mystery, the otherworldly and dreamscapes comes through in the titles of her recent shows: "Sweet Dreams, Nosferatu" at Anton Kern Gallery, New York, and "Insomnia" at Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo (both 2021). She cites David Lynch and North American sci-fl movies of the 1990s as influences. Discussing the latter with Mitchell, she says: "By using green, purple and pink tones for skin or limbs, I mainly wanted to create works connected to feelings, sensations and emotions; works that the viewer could relate to regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, and so on."
Recent noteworthy solo exhibitions include: Afasta Nefasta, Ordet, Milan, Italy (2022); Insônia, Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo, Brazil (2021); Nervo, MAC Niterói – Museum of Contemporary Art of Niterói, Niterói, Brazil (2021); Sweet Dreams, Nosferatu, Anton Kern Gallery, New York, USA (2021); Art Basel Parcours, Basel, Switzerland (2021); Witch, Madragoa Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal. Among the group exhibitions, the following stand out: The Post Modern Child, MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art Busan, Busan, Korea (2023); Who Tells a Tale Adds a Tail, Denver Art Museum, Denver, USA (2022); SCAM. Language, fracture, fiction: Brazil-Portugal, Sesc Pompéia, São Paulo, Brazil (2020).
Main exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
2023 - The new, the old, and the hole, WINDOW by Anton Kern Gallery, New York (USA)
2023 - Dois pra cá, dois pra lá, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery, Carpintaria, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2022 - Afasta Nefasta, Ordet, Milan (ITA)
2021 - Sweet Dreams, Nosferatu at Art Basel Parcours, Basel (SUI)
2021 - Sweet Dreams, Nosferatu, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (USA)
2021 - Insônia, Curator Fernanda Brenner, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2021 - Nervo, Curator Raphael Fonseca, MAC Niterói, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2020 - Bruxa, Text Sarah De Chiara, Madragoa, Lisbon (PRT)
2019 - Microwave Your Friends, Madragoa + InVitro Gallery, Cluj (ROM)
2018 - Infiltraciones (Proyecto Visible), Curator Jesús Fuenmayor, Pinta Fair Miami (USA)
2018 - Tropical Extravaganza: Paola and Paulina, Curator Leandro Muniz, Sesc Niterói (BRA)
2017 - Honra ao Mérito, Curator Bernardo Mosqueira, UFRJ Forum, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2017 - X- Caça ao Tesouro, Text Laerte Ramos, Pinacoteca of São Bernardo (BRA)
2016 - Stickers Album, Text Ana Luiza Lima, Program Exhibitions 2016 of CCSP (BRA)
2016 - Sem Cerimônia, Text Carlos Eduardo Riccioppo, Simultaneous Individual 2016 of MARP (BRA)
Group exhibitions
2023 - Bucket List, Madragoa, Lisboa (PRT)
2023 - O curso do sol, Gomide & Co. Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2023 - The Post Modern Child, MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art Busan, Busan (KOR)
2023 - Chão da praça, Pina Contemporânea, Pinacoteca de São Paulo (BRA)
2022 - Les beaux jours, Clearing, Brussels (BEL)
2022 - Brave World, Telegraph, Olomouc (CZE)
2022 - Por muito tempo acreditei ter sonhado que era livre, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo (BRA)
2022 - Setas e Turmalinas, Casa de Cultura do Parque, São Paulo (BRA)
2022 - Who tells a tale adds a tail, Curator Raphael Fonseca, Denver Art Museum, Denver (USA)
2022 - Pequenas pinturas Ato II, Curator Polliana Quintela, Auroras, São Paulo (BRA)
2022 - Are artworks contemporary, Madragoa, Lisbon (PRT)
2022 - The Silence of Tired Tongues, Curator Raphael Fonseca, Framer Framed, Amsterdam (NED)
2022 - I Could Eat You, Casa da Cultura de Comporta, Comporta (PRT)
2022 - Bajo El Sol, Presented by Travesía Cuatro, Madrid (ESP)
2022 - A Sua Estupidez, Presented by Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery, Carpintaria, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2022 - Uma mão lava a outra, Curators Antonio Lee & Antonio Malta, Olhão, São Paulo (BRA)
2021 - Tales of Manhattan, Presented by Anton Kern Gallery, New York (USA)
2021 - Os Monstros de Babaloo, Curator Vitor Gorgulho, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery | São Paulo (BRA)
2020 - Farsa, Curator Marta Mestre, Polliana Quintela, SESC Pompeia, São Paulo (BRA)
2020 - Pulse, Presented by Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery, Carpintaria, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2020 - Samba In The Dark, Curators F. Arruda, P. Pericas, N. Pope, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (USA)
2020 - Esqueci De Acordar, Curator Federico Herreiro, Diabo Rosso Gallery, Panama City (PAN)
2019 - Punk Alegria Tropical: Fuck you Mr. President, Curator R. Sardenberg, Dandi Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2019 - Exposição paralela Terry Winters, Auroras, Olhão, São Paulo (BRA)
2019 - A PARTE MALDITA: um esboço, Curator Ricardo Sardenberg, SIM Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2019 - A Burrice dos Homens, Curator Fernanda Brenner, Bergamin & Gomide Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2019 - Perdona Se No Te Crea, Curator Victor Gorgulho, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2019 - Rocambole, Curators Fernanda Brenner, Luís da Silva, João Mourão, Kunsthalle Lissabon, Lisboa (PRT)
2018 - Por el momento estamos acá, Despacio / Nos Vemos, San José (CRI)
2018 - Rocambole, Curator Fernanda Brenner, Pivot Art & Research, São Paulo (BRA)
2018 - Unidos da Barra Funda, Olhão, São Paulo (BRA)
2018 - Avesso Viés, Curator Paulo Miyada, SIM Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2018 - Superfícies Sensíveis, Curator Ícaro Vidal, CCBB Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2018 - Natureza Sintética, Curator Ícaro Vidal, Unicamp, Campinas (BRA)
2018 - Grandiosa Festa Junina, Curator P. Quintella, B. Mosqueira, Solar dos Abacaxis, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2018 - Landscape, Curated Laerte Ramos, Marta Thaba Gallery, São Paulo (SP)
2017 - Disfarce, Curator Leandro Muniz, Oswald de Andrade Cultural Office, São Paulo (BRA)
2017 - Paisagem Cenário, Curator Douglas de Freitas, Sancovsky Gallery, São Paulo (BRA)
2017 - Transeunte, Curator Nilton Campos, MARP 25 years, Riberão Preto (BRA)
2017 - Arranjos II, SAO Art Space, São Paulo (BRA)
2016 - Ponto Cego, Curator Thais Rivitti, Ateliê 397, São Paulo (BRA)
2016 - Arranjos, SAO Art Space, São Paulo (BRA)
2016 - Novas Poéticas 2016, Curator Philipe de Marco, Museu do Futuro, Curitiba (BRA)
2015 - 26° Salão Juventude, Curator Thiago Honorio, Renan Araujo, SESC Riberão Preto (BRA)
2015 - Processos Criativos, Wesley Duke Lee Art Institute, São Paulo (BRA)
2015 - Novas Poéticas 2015, Curator Philipe de Marco, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2015 - 40° SARP, Curator Carlos E. Riccioppo, Sérgio Romagnolo, MARP, Riberão Preto (BRA)
2015 - 21° Salão de Arte Anapolino, Curator D. Sobral, D. Freitas, K. Nunes, Sibasolly Gallery, Anápolis (BRA)
2015 - Programa de Exibições, Curator Liliane Benetti, MARP, Riberão Preto (BRA)
Awards & Reviews
2021 - Featured in the 2021 edition of Art Basel Parcours
2021 - The Artsy Vanguard: nominated in the 2021 edition | Review by Ela Bittencourt
2019 - CURA Magazine 31° edition | Review by João Mourão, Luís Silva
2019 - Pivô Revista Magazine 1° edition | Review by Livia Benedetti
2019 - PIPA Prize: Artist nominated for the PIPA 2019 award
2018 - PIPA Prize: Artist nominated for the PIPA 2018 award
2017 - Jury of Salão Novas Poéticas 2017 | Cañizares Gallery (BRA)
2015 - Graphic Material Award | 26° Salão Juventude | SESC Riberão Preto (BRA)
2015 - Leonello Berti Award | 40 ° SARP - Acquisition - MARP Collection (BRA)
Artists Residence
2023 - LACASAPARK Art Residency, New York (USA)
2018 - Pivot Art and Research, São Paulo (BRA)
2018 - Despacio, San José (CRI)
2017 - Ateliê 397, São Paulo (BRA)