Yoshimasa Tsuchiya was born in 1977 in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 2001, and completed the doctoral course at the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation, Graduate School of Fine Arts in 2007. He is know primarily for his real and imaginary animal sculptures, which can seem mystical or realistic with their smooth milky white coloring.  He uses traditional Buddhist carving techniques with the texture so smooth, a quality not usually seen in wood carvings. He also uses crystal or glass for the unfocused eyes that enhances its mysterious quality. His works have received favorable reviews at exhibitions and art fairs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Europe. 

The artist can be followed on Twitter.

Images:  Courtesy of Yoshimasa Tsuchiya.