Born in Japan, Toshiko Oiyama studied visual communication in the United States and had a long career in graphic design in the USA, Holland, Indonesia, Singapore and New Zealand before coming to Australia in 2001. Changing direction in Sydney, she studied fine art, obtaining Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of New South Wales.

She draws inspiration equally from the Australian outback, the ancient pilgrimage trails of Japan, science and philosophy. She feels that her exposure to both fine and applied arts, to various cultures and peoples, and indeed to all experiences, continues to enrich her perception of life and, therefore, her art. Her practice is focused on drawing, a field whose boundaries she continues to push, working in both 2D and 3D.

She exhibits regularly and has won prizes and grants including the Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, an artist residency in Paris and the UNSW Postgraduate Award. She has been a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize, the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing and the Kedumba Drawing Award. Oiyama currently divides her time between her art practice and teaching drawing at the National Art School, both of which she enjoys enormously.