BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Japan, Tamae was a fashion jewelry designer in Tokyo until immigrating to the U.S. in 1992. After attending the metalsmith workshop in Penland School in North Carolina, she began working as a full-time studio jewelry artist and focused on producing one-of-a-kind jewelry. She exhibited in numerous invitational and juried gallery exhibitions and has had work sold in a number of galleries in the U.S. She also participated in national juried shows such as The American Craft Show, as well as regional juried art fairs. She has received awards for Best Artist in the jewelry category on many different occasions.
Her artistic expression in art jewelry expanded over the years, and she felt the strong need to connect her emotions and art in the form of the figurative object but not just within the confinement of personal adornments. In 2004 she learned to sculpt in clay at the local college and realized that clay was the best material in which to express her inner feelings. She has never looked back since.
Tamae joined the Pacific Northwest Sculptors Guild in 2006 and has been participating in it's group shows. She’s also exhibited in gallery group shows and regional juried exhibitions with her figurative sculptures.