Born and raised in Japan, Yuri Kobayashi received her BA degree in architecture design at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo. After training in traditional Japanese woodworking, she moved to the U.S. to pursue an MFA degree in woodworking and furniture design at San Diego State University. Currently she divides her time between teaching in Furniture Design Department at RISD and producing her own work.

Kobayashi exhibits her work nationally and has been awarded several grants, including Windgate Artist-in Residency Program at SUNY Purchase College in 2010 and University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. Being influenced by her origin, her work is a reflection of her identity, experience and empathy. Utilizing predominantly wood, she employs repetitive manners to create concept-based objects with an emphasis on the sculptural form.