Haruka Miyamoto was born in a small village near Hiroshima, Japan, where she was privileged to grow up surrounded by nature, including mountains, lush forests, and a diverse range of wildlife. From an early age, she loved drawing, painting, and creating, finding joy in bringing life to her materials. Her passion for making homemade teddy bears became an obsession, ultimately leading her to win an international handmade teddy bear competition in the U.S. at age 17.
At 19, Haruka moved to England to deepen her creative journey, graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Textile Design in 2011. She has since dedicated herself to the arts, specializing in garment embellishment, costume props modeling, and embroidery. Working as a costume props modeller, embroiderer, or costume maker, she has contributed her unique finishing touches to major film productions, always priding herself on “breathing life” into each design.
Haruka’s expertise has enhanced a number of acclaimed films, including One Chance (2013), Disney Cinderella (2015), The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Dr. Strange (2016), Mary Poppins Returns (2018), The Favourite (2018), Mary Queen of Scots (2018), The Secret Garden (2020), Cinderella (2021), and the upcoming Disney Snow White (2025). Notably, in Disney Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh, the fairytale gown was decorated with dozens of hand-painted butterflies crafted by Haruka Miyamoto herself, adding a magical touch to the iconic dress.
Her artistry has attracted the admiration of renowned costume designer Sandy Powell, who purchased one of Haruka’s dodo sculptures. This cherished piece now sits alongside Sandy Powell’s Oscar trophies. Haruka’s ongoing personal art projects have earned her numerous accolades, underscoring her dedication to creativity and craftsmanship. Since her childhood, she has never stopped creating sculptures of "Extraordinary animals" that Art San Gallery is now very proud to display.
The Mascarene flamingo is thought to have once inhabited the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. This sculpture captures the essence of Haruka Miyamoto's art, blending reality and imagination to revive a forgotten island marvel.
The Formosan clouded leopard was a subspecies of clouded leopard native to Taiwan. These cats were skilled climbers, able to navigate rugged forest terrain and even hang upside down from trees. Known for its striking coat with large cloud-like markings, it was slightly smaller than other clouded leopard species, measuring about 60-80 cm in body length, with a long, bushy tail.
Last Record: about 1681. Distribution: Mauritius, Mascarenes. Size of the sculptures: Small 25 x 18 x h35 (cm) / 9.84 x 7.09 x h17.78 inches. Large 40 x 25 x h52 (cm) / 15.75 x 9.84 x h20.47 inches. Material: Leather / wire / fabric / polyester filling / washing up sponge / plastic bin liner. Creating time: 1 week (small) to two weeks (large).
The Mascarene flamingo is thought to have once inhabited the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. This sculpture captures the essence of Haruka Miyamoto's art, blending reality and imagination to revive a forgotten island marvel.
Mottainai (もったいない) is a traditional Japanese concept that expresses a deep respect for resources. It encapsulates the idea of using everything to its fullest potential and appreciating the value of materials, objects, and efforts. This philosophy permeates many aspects of Japanese culture, including architecture, cuisine, and traditional arts. It encourages the preservation, repurposing, and honoring of materials in their entirety. This concept resonates deeply in Haruka Miyamoto’s artistic practice, where the principles of Mottainai shape not only the materials she uses, such as real leathers, but also the very essence of her creative process. For Haruka, this concept aligns with her focus on extraordinary extinct animals, giving new life to forgotten species and making a statement about the importance of preserving both the past and the future.
Her admiration for traditional craftsmanship, combined with the incorporation of making techniques from multiple craft disciplines, gives Haruka Miyamoto’s work a masterly touch. Age-old shoemaking techniques are creatively reimagined to bring to life renditions of vulnerable species. The work gives onlookers a sense of ‘being alive,’ an effect that is clearly enhanced by the strong use of real leathers. The combination of media is fused with the energy of an animated creature, reflecting Haruka’s deep connection to her heritage and craftsmanship. The black leather used in the extinct animal pieces, such as the enigmatic dodo bird, haunts the viewer with its three-dimensional shadow.
