By Sara Bright
What if you could not only hear a song, but see and touch it? For artist and composer Jura Skye, that’s not just a fanciful question – it’s the heart of his groundbreaking work. This month, his unique vision was recognised as he was awarded the August 2025 Creativity’s UK Prize for his stunning “Tapestries of Sound.”
Skye, whose real name is Yuri Negrebetsky, does something truly radical: he translates the soundwaves of his ethereal musical compositions into intricate, handwoven tapestries. In an art world that often keeps its disciplines neatly separated, Skye’s work throws out the rulebook. He’s not just making art inspired by his music; he is literally weaving the music itself, creating a sensory experience that challenges the boundaries of what art can be. This audacious approach has made him one of the most compelling new voices of his generation.
It is precisely this kind of convention-shattering creativity that the Creativity’s Prize was designed to celebrate. Since its founding in 2019, the award has sought out creators who dare to dismantle old barriers. As jury chair Maria Bregman explained, Skye’s work is a “masterful synthesis of ancient craft and contemporary composition.” She praised his rare ability to “weave the invisible world of music into a tangible reality,” prompting a profound rethinking of how we perceive both sound and sight.
Skye’s own journey is as layered as his art. Born in Moscow and now based in London, this self-described “Renaissance Man” finds inspiration everywhere – from the traditions of nomadic cultures and mythology to the music of composers as diverse as Debussy and Bach. His talent has already been turning heads, with a Stein Arts Award win and a shortlisting for the MUSE Digital Arts Award already under his belt.
Following in the footsteps of past winners like holographic sculptor Lin Mei and the poetry collective Verse, Jura Skye’s win is a powerful statement. He reminds us that in art, a thread can become a musical note, and a composition can become a lasting, physical artefact you can hang on a wall. He isn’t just showing us what sound looks like; he’s crafting a home for it.
