Biography

Drawing inspiration from nature, Yuki Aruga creates floral still life paintings that explore her mixed Japanese-British heritage.

Adopting the techniques and craftmanship perfected in Old Master painting, the artist is inspired by religious iconography from the Early Modern period. Although her works contribute to the ongoing Western tradition of still-life painting, conceptually her canvases are rooted in Eastern philosophy and Japanese aesthetic principles. Acting as a metaphor for her mixed-race heritage, her work challenges inherent dichotomies by existing somewhere between abstraction and figuration, the real and the virtual, presence and absence and East and West. The artist often utilises the motif of roses in her work as a nod to heritage as although synonymous with the English rose garden and epithet, English rose, the species originates from East Asia.

Undertaking her Foundation in Art & Design in 2004, Yuki Aruga graduated with a diploma from Wimbledon School of Arts in 2005. Following this, she went on to study at Camberwell College of Arts, graduating with a BA Hons Fine Art Painting in 2008. That year, Aruga participated in her first group exhibition, entitled Salon Art Prize 08 which was produced in partnership with VINEspace gallery, now known as Gooden Gallery.

In 2010, Aruga became an Artist in Residence at Sir William Perkins’ School in Surrey and later on that year, she participated in a group show held at Barbican Arts Group Trust. In 2012, Aruga took her career international, participating in the Trélex Residency in Switzerland, which she would go on to do again in 2016. Following her residency, Aruga held her first ever solo exhibition entitled, Ever Spring, at L’Artisan Parfumeur in Covent Garden. Two years later, she launched her first solo exhibition outside of the United Kingdom, exhibiting Only Now… with Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong. Just a few months later, she exhibited at Art Taipei, an international art fair in Taiwan that is considered the landmark of Asian art.

Opening up her work to the Asian market as a result, Aruga exhibited in a pop-up show with the same gallery at The Four Seasons in Hong Kong in 2015. Collaborating with the Royal Overseas League, she held another solo exhibition in London that year entitled Now and Again. Since then, Aruga has gone on to participate in over ten different group shows across the globe, exhibiting her work in prestigious locations such as the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy.

In 2016, she held her most recent solo exhibition at Chappell Contemporary entitled Whole to Part and in 2019, Aruga returned to education to perfect her craftsmanship. Undertaking a Masters in Fine Art, she graduated from City & Guilds London Art School in 2020.

Over the years, Aruga has worked in the studios of prolific artists such as David Wightman, Claire Morgan, Nina Rodin and Ralph Heimans.

This year, Maddox Gallery are delighted to be exhibiting her work for the first time in a solo show Without End at our flagship location in Maddox Street.

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News

Painting Nature: The Power of the Flower
May 24, 2023

Painting Nature: The Power of the Flower

Universal symbols of beauty and joy, the impulse to paint flowers is as old as history itself. As a new generation of Maddox artists put their creative stamp on this classic subject, join us as we celebrate floral art in its many blossoming forms.
Now at Maddox: The Hauntingly Beautiful World of Yuki Aruga
April 20, 2023

Now at Maddox: The Hauntingly Beautiful World of Yuki Aruga

Known for her hyperrealist works, rendered in exquisite detail, we’re delighted to introduce you to the British-Japanese artist Yuki Aruga. A brilliant, young talent who immediately caught the eye of the Maddox team with her unique take on Dutch Vanitas paintings of the 17th century, we spoke to Yuki to find out more about her practice in anticipation of her forthcoming exhibition at our May…
Five Artists That Are On Our Radar Right Now
February 8, 2023

Five Artists That Are On Our Radar Right Now

Are you familiar with the visually captivating Op Art of Bridget Riley? Or the fresh, young talent of Yuki Aruga, whose exquisite works draw upon both Western and Eastern artistic sensibilities? Using expertise and insight from the team at Maddox, we have selected the five artists that are on our radar right now. From upcoming exhibitions and new catalogue raisonnés to the unstoppable deman…

Exhibitions

YUKI ARUGA - WITHOUT END, 8 June - 15 July 2023
Maddox Street

YUKI ARUGA - WITHOUT END

8 June - 15 July 2023
NATURE'S ORDER, 19th January, 2023 to 6th March, 2023
Maddox Gallery, 112 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RU

NATURE'S ORDER

19th January, 2023 to 6th March, 2023
MODERN RENAISSANCE , Opening 24th February
Maddox Street

MODERN RENAISSANCE

Opening 24th February
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