Toru Oba was born and raised in Japan among a family of land owners and artists. As a young man he traveled and worked extensively in Europe  where he trained as a mason before moving to the US. Toru refined his use of brick and natural stone in the mountains of West Virginia before settling in Central Virginia.

Toru's work has included a shift towards landscape features and sculptural structures such as ponds, waterfalls, fountains and gardens and large sculpted stone benches and tables and more recently, free standing contemporary sculpture. Toru has been influenced by the works of the Japanese-American artist, Isamu Noguchi and the Spanish artist Antonio Gaudi and this can be seen in his use of organic forms and flowing lines, and the juxtaposition of rough surfaces with smooth highly polished ones. Toru describes himself as having a Japanese aesthetic nurtured by European influences.

Toru is a builder/designer who does his best work when he is given free rein to offer his own designs within a project. He accepts both private and public commissions and is also available as a consultant. 

More information and direct contact information can be found at   http://www.toruoba.com