Tomoko Suzuki

"My Buddhist practice taught me that an ordinary human being possesses the power to transform suffering into profound happiness. Through my art, I hope to inspire hope. I want to describe the capability of human beings to move through struggles with unshakable joy."

The predominant icons in Tomoko’s art are plump figures that she calls “Chubbies.” They are her visual interpretation of Bodhisattvas. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Bodhisattva is a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana to save others and is worshipped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism. Her “Chubby” figures are not meant to be the object of worship as many visual representations of Bodhisattvas tend to be. These figures act more as a reminder to anyone who comes across Tomoko’s art of the extraordinary powers of ordinary human beings. As a dedicated artist and a mother, Tomoko’s journey is not just about creating art but also about embodying determination and perseverance. Her work is a testament to the power of art in transforming lives and environments for the better.

Tomoko is a multi-disciplinary artist. She freely moves between different media of artmaking to actualize her vision. Frequently, she draws from photographs, videos, and her memories. Then she begins to sculpt in clay. Sometimes, she starts with sculpting and uses the sculptures to create more images in two-dimensional form such as drawing and printmaking. Tomoko has proven her abilities to create affordable artworks for a wider audience by using her skills as printmaker and a mold maker.

Tomoko’s formal training started back in the late 90’s soon after she migrated to central Illinois from Japan. While she grappled with learning a new language and struggling to assimilate into a culture she was a stranger to, Tomoko turned to art and music. She eventually found herself being comforted by drawing animals and people. At the age of 21, Tomoko started pursuing a fine art degree specializing in printmaking. After receiving her BFA, she pursued an MFA in Printmaking at California University Long Beach. She started experimenting with three-dimensional art while deepening her printmaking skills. Ten years after receiving her MFA, Tomoko dove into the world of sculpture and ceramics. Since then, she taught herself how to wheel throw and sculpt. Tomoko learned to make plaster molds from a teacher she met at a local clay store. With this new skill, she started to create her own molds of her figures that made it possible for her to multiply her art in various forms and colors.