Yoshi Iwaya is a Japanese terrarium ('kokerium') artist. He specialises in creating calming landscapes and scenes, and many of his works are recreations of the beautiful natural landscapes of the Central Coast and Japan. In addition to the traditional style, which tends to monotonal greens and greys, he uses vibrant tropical plants and verdant ferns in many pieces to evoke the Australian summer. 

He is the lead artisan at 'Terra-ya', where he runs workshops and sells at markets, florists and boutique small businesses from Newcastle to Sydney. He runs regular workshops at Gosford Regional Gallery, where he is inspired by their beautiful Japanese Garden.

Yoshi has been creating Japanese-style terrariums for over 10 years, and draws on his training as a designer and interior architect (Bachelor of Interior Architecture, First Class Honours & the University Medal, UNSW). He is inspired by his grandfather, who had hundreds of handmade bonsai at his silk farm in Japan, and his parents and sister, who spend their time together at garden shops when he returns to his home in Kanagawa Japan. Combining the Japanese aesthetic with Australian flora and soil to create terrariums and teach others gives him much joy every day.

Yoshi has called the Central Coast home since 2020 and lives in Gosford. It is rare to see so many mountains and hills around you in Australia, and when he visited the area with his family, the backdrop of green nature, rivers, and misty mornings reminded him of Japan. 

Website: https://terra-ya.au
Instagram: https://instagram.com/terraya.au