Melissa Finkenbiner artist at Studio Biku in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo

MELISSA FINKENBINER AT STUDIO BIKU

27/7/2023

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF
As a child in rural Ohio America, I always liked to draw. In 2008 I received a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education and in 2022 I completed my MBA. Though I occasionally teach workshops, I primarily create and show my own work. My husband and I have lived as expats since 2011, moving from Myanmar to Armenia, Zimbabwe, and now Japan in 2020. Moving our home to a new country every few years has greatly inspired the art I create.
Over the last 12 years, I have had 20 gallery exhibitions, including Balance for Better with the Zimbabwe National Gallery and eight solo exhibitions. I was honored when the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies purchased three of my mixed media portraits for U.S. Embassy Harare. I have art in the collections of two Myanmar galleries and in private collections in 11 countries. Since 2012 I have created and sold over 150 pieces of art and over 1000 pieces of jewelry. My most recent solo exhibition was with Moshimo Cafe and Art Space in Hayama.

TELL US ABOUT THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF YOUR WORK
I am cross-disciplined in jewelry metalsmithing and fine art but I always prioritize materials and procedures that have a minimal impact on the environment. I use everything from vintage metals to discarded glass. Sustainability is a process, and I am always learning and working to improve my methods and educate my clients. I create for those who appreciate eco-conscious works of art and those who want to connect to the global landscapes I live in.

WHAT DOES AN ORDINARY DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
An ordinary day starts around 5:15 when I take my old dogs for their first walk. The morning is a mix of yoga, domestic obligations, Japanese language studies, and checking social media and emails. On an ideal day, I get to creative work in my studio immediately after lunch and work until about 6:30. But I still struggle to protect this studio time from other business and personal obligations.

WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
Getting to experiment and create things that make me happy, and bring interest and joy to others in a sustainable way is the best part of my job.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST?
In general, the country we get to temporarily call home is what inspires me. Specifically, here in Japan, it has been a lot of natural elements of flora and small fauna and their interaction with shrines and traditional Japanese architecture.

DO YOU HAVE AN EXCITING PROJECT IN THE WORKS?
I am working on a few fine art pieces for a September solo show in central Tokyo. Details with the gallery are still being finalized but I am super excited to see this idea coming to fruition. Most of the art will be installation-style pieces that can be dismantled into individual standalone pieces for people to purchase and take home. Each work will use upcycled surfaces from plastic film and paper pulp to old ceramic roof tiles. The central theme is the four elements found in Japanese gardens.