Biography
Yuna (Lei) Zhang will graduate from Material Art & Design program at OCADU in 2023. She studied and lived in China in her early years. Zhang received an Associate Degree in Industrial Exhibition Design in Tianjin Arts and Crafts Vocational College in China in 2011 and a University Diploma in Administration program in The Open University of China in 2015.
When studying Industrial Design, she participated in the program logo design competition in 2009, winning second place. In addition, Zhang created her own online store during college. She makes Cosplay clothing and props customization. Her clothes incorporate her own design while restoring cartoon characters. After graduating from Vocational College. Zhang worked as a magazine editor.
In 2016, Zhang immigrated to Canada with her husband. She decided to go back to University. Then, she chooses her favourite major for study. Zhang believes that jewellery art is one of the essential elements of fashion. Therefore, Zhang focuses on both textiles and jewellery.
Yuna's jewellery artworks showed at the 61st Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Canada's leading contemporary exhibition. She is the winner of Honourable Mention of the Fourth Annual Emerging Artist Design Competition from the Canadian Gemmological Association.
Artist Statement
Zhang likes to study cross-cultural issues of art. She loves travelling and multi-culture and she usually brings Chinese culture into design. Zhang has been to more than a dozen countries to get her design inspiration. She is committed to integrating different cultures, technologies and novel materials into jewellery design. Zhang is experimenting with integrating textile technology into jewellery making, and the inheritance of traditional skills into contemporary jewellery design.
Zhang is also very knowledgeable about her craft. She is working on her newly established company with all her passion and love, creating story-based jewellery artworks.
Representation
Invisible Road Earring, Everlasting Love series, Dream and Reality Ring, Childhood Memory Ring, China Flying Goddess Series.