Yuji Hiratsuka expresses human conditions such as mood, feeling, and thought through ambiguous and whimsical figures. His multi-color intaglio and chine collé prints present human bodies that are simplified, exaggerated, or distorted along with elements such as fruit, vegetables, plants, and furniture. The figures combine his native Japanese culture with his current life in America.
Hiratsuka was born in Osaka, Japan, and earned a BS in Art Education from Tokyo Gakugei University, an MA in printmaking from New Mexico State University, and an MFA in printmaking from Indiana University. He has exhibited in the US, Korea, Canada, and Northern Ireland and his work is in numerous public collections including The British Museum; Tokyo Central Museum; Cincinnati Art Museum; Cleveland Art Museum; Portland Art Museum; The Library of Congress; and The Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art.